The Roswell Report: Fact vs. Fiction in the New Mexico Desert

J. TERRESTRIAL SCIENCES LABOR TORY

Chief: Dr. James A. Peoples, Jr.

1. Project title: Acoustic Sounding of the Atmosphere

Project scientists: Dr. J. A. Peoples, Jr., Dr. Norman Haskell

Summary of In-Laboratory work:

When large explosions have occurred, it has been observed that the sound was heard locally, say up to 25 miles, and also at distances of 100 to 200 miles, but that nothing was heard at intermediate distances. This phenomenon can only be explained by assuming that the sound is refracted into the atmosphere over the intermediate observers and then is bent back down to the more distant areas. For this to occur the velocity of propagation must first decrease with altitude and then increase again to a value at least as large as ground velocity. This is due to a decrease of temperature up to the tropopause followed by an increase in temperature above that level. Winds also have an appreciable affect which can be determined from asymmetrical propagation.

Up to about 1946 most data on this phenomenon had been obtained by taking polls after accidental explosions had occurred. Zones of audibility were mapped out and general conclusions then drawn. Very little systematic work was done in which accurate travel times and other factors were obtained. Beginning in 1946 at these laboratories, a systematic study of these propagation anomalies were started. Sound ranging detectors were set up in arrays, so that the direction and time of arrival of compressional waves could be determined. Explosions were set off on or near the ground at ranges varying from 25 to 200 miles. Data has been taken which has resulted in the indirect determination of the temperature (sound velocity) structure of the atmosphere up to the stratospheric level. East-west propagation was first studied off the New Jersey coast. These tests show there is little or no regular diurnal variation, and that some annual variation in the temperature structure exists. High level winds are shown to be generally easterly. Additional tests have been made in New Mexico to determine the diurnal and annual variations of the temperature structure at that latitude. Some accurate observations of wind velocity are indicated by observations taken along a north-south line as well as an east-west line. Winter observations have been taken in the vicinity of Fairbanks, Alaska for information at very high latitudes. Observations have been taken near the Panama Canal Zone for additional information in the tropics.

The sounds produced by rockets launched at Alamogordo have been recorded with acoustic detector arrays located on the ground near the rocket trajectory. From data gathered in this manner, some indications of upper air temperature and winds have been obtained and much more accurate determinations could be made if the rocket trajectories were more accurately known.