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Old 11-08-2022, 03:08 PM
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sheeny (Al)
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oberon NSW
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After playing about with this for five months now, I think it's worth adding some comments based on the experience so far.


Detection of meteors via infrasound is possible and practical, but the rates of detection are far lower than visual observation or photographic methods. The problem is that small meteors (say the size of grain of sand) produce only very small infrasound signals which are often attenuated before reaching the detector (Raspberry Boom or Shake and Boom).


The best chance of detection is for meteors at zenith, where the distance to the detector is minimal (50 to 100kms).


Obviously large and fast meteors are easier to detect as they make louder sonic booms on entry to the atmosphere.


The advantage of infrasound detection is it can still take place when visibility is limited, such as during daylight especially and to a lesser extent when cloudy. The reason infrasound is less effective when cloudy is the small water droplets that make up the clouds absorb the sound of the meteor in the same way as the water sprays used beneath a rocket absorb dangerous sound waves rocket. Even humidity increases sound attenuation.


Another advantage of infrasound detection is that for large bolides, and re-entering space junk, detection is possible at large distances - perhaps well beyond what's possible visually or photographically. For example, the detection of the SpaceX Dragon Trunk Re-entry in the previous post.


Unfortunately, rain and wind also produce a lot of infrasound so again the ability to detect meteors in these conditions is reduced as well.


Al.
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