Operational Applications of a Pure Acoustic Sounding System

Abstract

A monostatic acoustic sounding system and its capabilities in providing information about the temperature structure of the lower atmosphere are described. By means of the sounder record the meteorologist can 1) detect stable atmospheric strata including inversion layers, 2) determine the height of base and top of such strata, 3) detect convections, 4) determine height of base and top of convections, 5) determine time rate of change of all heights because the record is continuous and in real time, and 6) infer the form of the temperature profile. Numerous examples of applications of the sounder information to actual weather situations are discussed.