DETECTION OF NATURALLY OCCURRING EVENTS FROM SMALL APERTURE INFRASOUND ARRAYS

We report on data recorded from small aperture (20 m) infrasonic microphone arrays. These data include the well-observed Pennsylvania bolide of 7/23/01 and local severe storm passages. Data were obtained from two infrasonic arrays in southern Maryland. Analyzed results from two independent packages are presented, including bearing estimates and detector performance. Bolide detection results are correlated with eyewitness reports of the flight tra-jectory. Estimates are made of the bolide source energy from the application of the historical explosion scaling law relating the period at maximum acoustic amplitude. Finally, data from the passage of several severe storms are presented showing the detection and tracking of a low frequency acoustic signature of the storm including a category F4 tornado that struck La Plata, Maryland.