Large meteoroid detection using the global International Monitoring System infrasound system

We will review the subject of infrasound from large bolides (large meteor‐fireballs) entering the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds and their expected rate of detection by the 60 infrasonic arrays of the global IMS network (International Monitoring System). This will include the details of the generation of a quasiline source blast wave and its subsequent decay for near‐continuum flow conditions. We will also discuss new highly refined models of bolide ablation and fragmentation and of known compositional types and their effect on sound and light production. In addition, we will consider the effects of refraction of the waves by the middle atmospheric and tropospheric thermodynamic sound speed and horizontal wind profiles in a range‐independent atmosphere so that the characteristic velocity and wave normal directions radiated at the source are conserved during the propagation. Next, we will discuss the detection of the signals and their interpretation in terms of plane wave arrivals regarding the 3‐D source location (latitude, longitude, height), the source energy level, etc. Finally, we will use the infrasound data from bolides to estimate the expected steady‐state global influx rate, including formal errors, as a function of their observed source energy. Infrasound from recent large events will also be examined.