Abstract:

Effective outdoor sound propagation modeling requires an accurate knowledge of the wind and temperature profiles to elevations at least on the order of 1/10th the propagation distance of interest. Using similarity theory and ground-based wind and temperature sensors, the profile near the ground is modeled. However, extending a similarity-based profile above the surface layer is not physical and leads to large errors. This work presents a new profile model which fits very closely to similarity theory within the surface layer, and smoothly transitions to fit upper elevation atmospheric data available worldwide through aviation weather resources. Field experiments confirm the new profile's validity in stable atmospheres, both from SODAR and RASS measurements, as well as very long-range acoustic detection and parabolic equation modeling for low-frequency sinusoids. [Work supported by DARPA and U.S. Army CE-COM.]