Multi-arrival infrasound from meteoroids: Fragmentation signatures versus propagation effects in a fine-scale layered atmosphere
Igor P. Chunchuzov, Oleg E. Popov, Elizabeth A. Silber, Sergey N. Kulichkov
Icarus
Volume 450, 15 May 2026, 117007
Available online 17 February 2026, Version of Record 19 February 2026
“Highlights
- Fine-scale atmospheric models distinguish meteoroid fragmentation from multipath.
- Simulations show discrete pulse splitting requires ranges >140 km.
- Discrete arrivals at regional ranges confirm true source fragmentation.
- Criteria enable informed monitoring of bolide and space debris re-entries.”
“Infrasonic signatures of meteoroid fragmentation are frequently ambiguous: do multiple arrivals signify a complex breakup or merely the distorting effects of a layered atmosphere? Resolving this ambiguity is critical for accurate energy estimates and source reconstruction. In this study, we address this challenge by analyzing a unique regional dataset of well-constrained meteoroid events observed by the Southern Ontario Meteor Network and the co-located Elginfield Infrasound Array. We employ pseudo-differential parabolic equation (PPE) simulations to quantify how fine-scale gravity-wave structures in the stratosphere and lower thermosphere modify acoustic waveforms at ranges <300 km. Our modeling reveals that while fine-scale layering can stretch signals and generate diffuse oscillatory tails, it does not produce discrete, high-amplitude pulse splitting at ranges below ∼140 km. By applying these results to the rare multi-arrival event 20,060,305, we demonstrate that its distinct double arrival at 100 km range is inconsistent with atmospheric multipathing and provides definitive evidence of separate fragmentation episodes. These findings establish new diagnostic criteria for separating source physics from propagation artifacts, improving the reliability of infrasound as a monitoring tool for natural bolides, space debris re-entries, and catastrophic launch failures.”
