Nonlinear acoustic waves in the viscous thermosphere and ionosphere above earthquake

The nonlinear behavior of acoustic waves and their dissipation in the upper atmosphere is studied on the example of infrasound waves generated by vertical motion of the ground surface during the Mw 8.3 earthquake that occurred about 46 km from Illapel, Chile on 16 September 2015. To conserve energy, the amplitude of infrasound waves initially increased as the waves propagated upward to the rarefied air. When the velocities of air particles became comparable with the local sound speed, the nonlinear effects started to play an important role. Consequently, the shape of waveform changed significantly with increasing height, and the original wave packet transformed to the “N‐shaped” pulse resembling a shock wave. A unique observation by the continuous Doppler sounder at the altitude of about 195 km is in good agreement with full wave numerical simulation that uses as boundary condition the measured vertical motion of the ground surface. Key Points Infrasound waves triggered by seismic activity propagate upward and dissipate in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere The propagation of infrasound in the upper atmosphere is nonlinear, and N‐shaped pulse is formed if the initial amplitude is large enough Numerical simulation based on solution of nonlinear compressible fluid equations is consistent with observation