<p>More than a year later, I'm doing a preliminary literature survey (noting that infrasound propagation is used in nuke test ban treaty verification):</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0012-8252(77)90063-0" rel="nofollow">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0012-8252(77)90063-0</a> W.L. Jones. Waves in the atmosphere; Atmospheric infrasound and gravity waves, their generation and propagation. (1977)</li>
<li><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246x.2011.04975.x" rel="nofollow">https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246x.2011.04975.x</a> Green et al. Infrasound radiated by the Gerdec and Chelopechene explosions: propagation along unexpected paths. (2011)</li>
<li><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246x.2010.04925.x" rel="nofollow">https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246x.2010.04925.x</a> Groot-Hedlin, Hedlin, Walker. Finite difference synthesis of infrasound propagation through a windy, viscous atmosphere: application to a bolide explosion detected by seismic networks. (2011)</li>
<li><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2011jd017014" rel="nofollow">https://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2011jd017014</a> Evers et al. Anomalous infrasound propagation in a hot stratosphere and the existence of extremely small shadow zones. (2012)</li>
<li><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.1903454" rel="nofollow">https://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.1903454</a> Liszka. Long-distance propagation of infrasound from artificial sources. (1974)</li>
<li><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani3020349" rel="nofollow">https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani3020349</a> Kelley, Garstang. On the possible detection of lightning storms by elephants. (2013) (courtesy of <a href="https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/users/64/casey">casey</a>)</li>
</ul>

<p>... and a ton of others. When I have enough time, will study. Others may surely use the leads I collected to post an answer before that.</p>

<p>Things to keep in mind: anomalous propagation, whether acoustic or electromagnetic, below the surface or above it, is based on speed inversions. Whenever there are countervailing trends in salinity (for water)/water content (for air), density, and temperature, natural waveguides may exist.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-19T17:47:49.463Z
I'll look for a reference of a talk I saw on elephants using infrasound from distant thunderstorms to find water.
casey
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-19T17:49:01.387Z
@casey - would be v. grateful. Should I make the post community wiki in the meantime?
Deer Hunter
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-22T19:22:01.493Z
Here is one [10.3390/ani3020349](https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani3020349).  IIRC this work stems from research into elephant communication via infrasound and the possible use of lightning generated infrasound for finding stormwater over distances of 100+ km.  This article is quite short, but take a look at its references.
casey
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-22T19:40:47.710Z
@casey - the refs are almost exclusively elephant-centered 8-) Thanks a lot!
Deer Hunter
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-19T01:47:56.603Z
2015-07-22T19:39:07.437Z
2015-07-22T19:39:07.437Z
Deer Hunter
<p>While the project was deemed a failure (see below), does the upper atmospheric acoustic waveguide exist?</p>
<p>What are the propagation losses for low-frequency sounds?</p>
<p>Where can one find further information on the acoustical characteristics of the upper atmosphere?</p>
<hr />
<h2>PROJECT MOGUL</h2>
<blockquote>
<p>Project MOGUL was first conceived by Dr. Maurice Ewing of Columbia University, NY, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MA. Dr. Ewing had conducted considerable research for the Navy during World War II, studying, among other things, the &quot;sound channel&quot; in the ocean. He proved that explosions could be heard thousands of miles away with underwater microphones placed at a predetermined depth within the sound channel. He theorized that since sound waves generated by explosions could be carried by currents deep within the ocean, they might be similarly transmitted within a sound channel in the upper atmosphere. The military application of this theory was the long-range detection of sound waves generated by Soviet nuclear detonations and the acoustical signatures of ballistic missiles as they traversed the upper atmosphere. He presented his theory to General Carl Spaatz, Chief of Staff of the Army Air Forces, in the fall Of 1945. ...</p>
<p>...By December 1948, serious concerns had arisen regarding the feasibility of the project as first conceived. Even though the principle on which the project was based was determined to be sound, questions concerning cost, security, and practicality were discussed-that ultimately led to the disbandment of the project, and Project MOGUL as first conceived was never put into operational use. ...</p>
<p>...The primary scientist for MOGUL was Dr. James Peoples, assisted by Albert P. Crary, the Field Operations Director. Both scientists had previous associations with Dr. Ewing: Dr. Peoples at Columbia, and A.P. Crary at Woods Hole. Both scientists were assigned to MOGUL for the entire length of the project. ...</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>References</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Mogul" rel="noreferrer">Wikipedia on Project Mogul</a></li>
<li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20140116121941/http://muller.lbl.gov/teaching/physics10/Roswell/USMogulReport.html" rel="noreferrer">A background document on Mogul from Berkeley</a> - a lecture course by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_A._Muller" rel="noreferrer">Prof.Muller</a>.</li>
</ul>

<upper-atmosphere>
Project Mogul: Does upper atmosphere indeed have a sound waveguide channel?
Deer Hunter
# Project Mogul: Does upper atmosphere indeed have a sound waveguide channel?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-05-14)

While the project was deemed a failure (see below), does the upper atmospheric acoustic waveguide exist?

What are the propagation losses for low-frequency sounds?

Where can one find further information on the acoustical characteristics of the upper atmosphere?

---

## PROJECT MOGUL

> Project MOGUL was first conceived by Dr. Maurice Ewing of Columbia University, NY, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MA. Dr. Ewing had conducted considerable research for the Navy during World War II, studying, among other things, the "sound channel" in the ocean. He proved that explosions could be heard thousands of miles away with underwater microphones placed at a predetermined depth within the sound channel. He theorized that since sound waves generated by explosions could be carried by currents deep within the ocean, they might be similarly transmitted within a sound channel in the upper atmosphere. The military application of this theory was the long-range detection of sound waves generated by Soviet nuclear detonations and the acoustical signatures of ballistic missiles as they traversed the upper atmosphere. He presented his theory to General Carl Spaatz, Chief of Staff of the Army Air Forces, in the fall Of 1945. ...
>
> ...By December 1948, serious concerns had arisen regarding the feasibility of the project as first conceived. Even though the principle on which the project was based was determined to be sound, questions concerning cost, security, and practicality were discussed-that ultimately led to the disbandment of the project, and Project MOGUL as first conceived was never put into operational use. ...
>
> ...The primary scientist for MOGUL was Dr. James Peoples, assisted by Albert P. Crary, the Field Operations Director. Both scientists had previous associations with Dr. Ewing: Dr. Peoples at Columbia, and A.P. Crary at Woods Hole. Both scientists were assigned to MOGUL for the entire length of the project. ...

## References

* [Wikipedia on Project Mogul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Mogul)
* [A background document on Mogul from Berkeley](http://web.archive.org/web/20140116121941/http://muller.lbl.gov/teaching/physics10/Roswell/USMogulReport.html) - a lecture course by [Prof.Muller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_A._Muller).

**Tags:** upper-atmosphere


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2015-07-19. Score: 5

More than a year later, I'm doing a preliminary literature survey (noting that infrasound propagation is used in nuke test ban treaty verification):

* <https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0012-8252(77)90063-0> W.L. Jones. Waves in the atmosphere; Atmospheric infrasound and gravity waves, their generation and propagation. (1977)
* <https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246x.2011.04975.x> Green et al. Infrasound radiated by the Gerdec and Chelopechene explosions: propagation along unexpected paths. (2011)
* <https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246x.2010.04925.x> Groot-Hedlin, Hedlin, Walker. Finite difference synthesis of infrasound propagation through a windy, viscous atmosphere: application to a bolide explosion detected by seismic networks. (2011)
* <https://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2011jd017014> Evers et al. Anomalous infrasound propagation in a hot stratosphere and the existence of extremely small shadow zones. (2012)
* <https://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.1903454> Liszka. Long-distance propagation of infrasound from artificial sources. (1974)
* <https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani3020349> Kelley, Garstang. On the possible detection of lightning storms by elephants. (2013) (courtesy of [username_1](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/users/64/username_1))

... and a ton of others. When I have enough time, will study. Others may surely use the leads I collected to post an answer before that.

Things to keep in mind: anomalous propagation, whether acoustic or electromagnetic, below the surface or above it, is based on speed inversions. Whenever there are countervailing trends in salinity (for water)/water content (for air), density, and temperature, natural waveguides may exist.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'll look for a reference of a talk I saw on elephants using infrasound from distant thunderstorms to find water.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 - would be v. grateful. Should I make the post community wiki in the meantime?  
> **username_1**: Here is one [10.3390/ani3020349](https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani3020349).  IIRC this work stems from research into elephant communication via infrasound and the possible use of lightning generated infrasound for finding stormwater over distances of 100+ km.  This article is quite short, but take a look at its references.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 - the refs are almost exclusively elephant-centered 8-) Thanks a lot!  

---

