Infrasound detection and altitude estimation associated with the December 22, 2020 Yushu fireball

Abstract

Abstract A large bolide was reported at 23:23:33 UTC on December 22, 2020, at a height of ~ 35.5 km at $$31.9^\circ \mathrm{N}$$ 31 . 9 ∘ N , $$96.2^\circ \mathrm{E}$$ 96 . 2 ∘ E in Yushu, Qinghai Province, China. It is the largest fireball observed in China on record with a TNT equivalent of 9.5 kilotons. Infrasound signals were detected by a four-element infrasound array deployed in Yunnan Province, China. The parameters of this event were obtained using the progressive multi-channel correlation method. The altitude of this event was estimated to be $$43.22\pm 15.51\mathrm{ km}$$ 43.22 ± 15.51 km using a ray tracing back-projection algorithm.

Keywords

• Infrasound
• Fireball
• Altitude
• Ray tracing back-projection algorithm