Global sonic boom overpressure variation from seasonal temperature, pressure, and density gradients

The article discusses the global variation of sonic boom overpressure due to seasonal changes in the atmosphere with temperature, pressure, and density gradients. Seasonal variations and geographic differences in overpressure due to a nonstandard atmosphere were examined in comparison with the standard atmospheric conditions. Differences in altitude were taken into consideration; however, the effects of wind, atmospheric absorption, and turbulence were not taken into account. The meteorological observations were obtained from a radiosonde, which is a balloon-borne instrument platform. These upper-air observations are performed twice a day at 0000 and 1200 coordinated universal time (UTC) in many parts of the world. The average vertical resolution of the observations is several hundred meters. The observations were assumed to be the values in the upper air directly above each station.