Infrasound Signals in Coastal Environment at Jang Bogo Station, Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica

Abstract

Infrasound signals in Antarctica reflect physical interaction in the surface environments around the recorded area. In December 2015, an infrasound array by three sensors in the detectable frequency range of 0.1 - 200 Hz, combined with one broadband barometer was deployed at Jang Bogo Station, Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica. The two years of data by the broadband barometer contain characteristic signals that caused by surface environment nearby the station, mixing with local noises such as katabatic winds. Clear continuous signals by oceanic swells (microbaroms) were recorded with a predominant frequency of around 0.2 s. Variations of frequency context and amplitudes in the Power Spectral Density were considered as affected by sea-ice dynamics surrounding the Terra Nova Bay. Monitoring of microbaroms could contribute to understanding ocean wave climate, with other oceanographic, cryospheric and geophysical data in Antarctica. Infrasound data in Terra Nova Bay might be a new proxy for estimating environmental variations affected by global warming, cryosphere dynamics, together with volcanic eruptions in Victoria Land.