M. Kanao¹ , T. Murayama² , M. Yamamoto³ , Y. Ishihara⁴

¹National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo, Japan
²Japan Weather Association, Japan
³Kochi University of Technology, Kami, Japan
⁴Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tokyo, Japan

Abstract:

Characteristic features of infrasound waves observed in the Antarctic represent a physical interaction relating to the surface environment in the continental margin and surrounding Southern Ocean. Source location of several infrasound events are demonstrated using a combination of two array deployments along the coast of the Lützow-Holm Bay (LHB), East Antarctica, for the data retrieving period January - June 2015. These infrasound arrays established during January 2013 clearly detected temporal variations in frequency content and propagation direction of the seven large events identified. Many of these sources are assumed to have cryoseismic origins by comparison with the MODIS satellite data such as ice-quakes associated with calving of glaciers, discharge of sea-ice, collision between sea-ice and icebergs around the LHB. Moreover, several notable infrasound waves are recorded by locally originating signals contaminated with high-frequency content, which may include regional earthquakes. Detailed and continuous measurements of infrasound waves in the Antarctic is a proxy for monitoring regional surface environmental variation as well as temporal climate change in high southern latitudes.