Acoustic propagation experiments in a turbulent atmosphere

The University of Florida (UF) is developing a fast prediction model for infrasound propagation through turbulence for the purposes of predicting tornado formation, tracking tornadoes, and increasing safety via improved early warning. Tornadoes create low frequency acoustic waves below the threshold of human hearing called infrasound. Triangulation of the information position via infrasound measurements will allow the development of early warning systems. Propagation of the infrasound through the atmosphere is altered due to the turbulence within the atmosphere. This atmospheric turbulence must be accounted for within the measurements used to identify tornadic infrasound signatures. The goal of this research is to quantify the alteration of the propagation of infrasound due to the atmospheric turbulence via wind tunnel experiments.