资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

The mechanical coupling between solid planets and their atmospheres enables seismically induced acoustic waves to propagate in the atmosphere. We numerically simulate this coupled system for two application cases: active seismic experiments (ASEs) and passive seismic experiments. A recent ASE (Krishnamoorthy et al., 2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/2018GL077481) observed the infrasonic signals produced by a seismic hammer. To measure the sensitivity of observations to seismic parameters, we attempt to reproduce the results from this experiment at short range by considering a realistic unconsolidated subsurface and an idealized rock-solid subsurface. At long range, we investigate the influence of the source by using two focal mechanisms. We found surface waves generate an infrasonic plane head wave in the ASE case of the rock-solid material. For the passive seismic experiments, the amplitude of atmospheric infrasound generated by seismic surface waves is investigated in detail. Despite some limitations, the simulations suggest that balloon measurement of seismically induced infrasound might help to constrain ground properties.

Plain Language Summary During an earthquake, the ground shakes the air above. We performed simulations of some seismic events and of the propagation of their consequences in the atmosphere. We found that observing the displacement of the air close to a seismic event can give information about the properties of the soil. This perspective is particularly interesting for planetary investigation. For example, it is impossible to study Venus' interior with ground instruments because of the harsh conditions at its surface. Our work is one of the steps toward proving that the study of Venus' (or any other solid planet) internal structure may be possible with airborne instruments.