Observations of Hummock Echoes in Italy

Abstract

A monostatic acoustic sounder on the coast near La Spezia, Italy, detected clearly defined hummock echoes on two consecutive days in May 1977. The associated meteorological conditions are described. Reasonable agreement between the levels of the hummock echo bases and the cumulus cloud bases is found. The association between the upper parts of individual hummocks and clouds is discussed, as are the conditions favoring hummock echo production. It is suggested that some coastal sites may be good for such observation of such echoes.