Low frequency noise generated in sea ice by blowing snow

Acoustic energy is produced in sea ice by the interaction of wind-driven drifting snow with its surface. As a result the noise from blowing snow at low frequencies requires understanding as a source of possible interference with stress and strain signals produced by wind stresses on a sea ice cover. The impact frequencies of saltating snow particles on sea ice are controlled by their speed of fall,w, and by the vertical component of their take-off velocity,V_sy^o, and are described approximately by the equation f=g(V_sy^o + w)^-1 Hz , where g is the acceleration due to gravity. Calculations show that frequencies generated are in the band 0.5 to 7 Hz.