The tau–p method of Buland & Chapman (1983) is reformulated for sound waves propagating in a stratified atmosphere under the influence of a height‐dependent wind velocity profile. For a given launch angle along a specified azimuth, the ray parameter is redefined to include the influence of the horizontal wind component along the direction of wave propagation. Under the assumption of negligible horizontal wind shear, the horizontal wind component transverse to the ray propagation does not affect the direction of the wave normal, but displaces the reference frame of the moving wavefront, thus altering the observed incidence azimuth. Expressions are derived for the time, horizontal range, and transverse range of the arriving waves as a function of ray parameter. Algorithms for the location of infrasonic wave sources using the modified tau–p formulation in conjunction with regional atmospheric wind and temperature data are discussed.

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Combining altimetric height with broadscale profile data to estimate steric height, heat storage, subsurface temperature, and sea-surface tempera ture variability^ Geophys. Res., /0£(C9),3292,

The rumble of hypersonic objects tearing through the atmosphere can be routinely detected by sensitive infrasound sensors [Brown et al., 2002]. Meteors and reentering spacecraft are the most common hypersonic sources, although supersonic aircraft generate comparable signatures. This article concentrates on two exceptionally energetic events: the tragic Columbia reentry of 1 February 2003 (STS‐107) and the 23 April 2001 superbolide explosion. On 23 April 2001, a large meteor exploded at a height of ˜28.5 km between Hawaii and California. With an estimated explosive energy of ˜10 k of TNT, this event catalyzed the U.S. infrasound community to work with other sectors of government, academia, and industry to provide rapid analyses of any available infrasound, seismic, hydroacoustic, and satellite data that would help identify the explosion source and determine its location.