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Waterfall infrasound
Jacob F Anderson1, Hugo D Ortiz2,3, Jesse R Barber4,5
1Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|June 18, 2026
Summary
Waterfalls generate continuous infrasound, with sound power directly proportional to hydraulic power. This infrasound can travel long distances, impacting animal perception and enabling remote monitoring of waterfall discharge.
Area of Science:
- Acoustics
- Environmental Science
- Hydrology
Background:
- Waterfalls are continuous infrasound sources with implications for acoustic studies.
- Previous research has not fully characterized the relationship between waterfall parameters and infrasound generation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate infrasonic observations from 11 waterfalls with varying hydraulic power, discharge, and height.
- To analyze the spectral characteristics of waterfall infrasound.
- To establish relationships between infrasound parameters and waterfall properties.
Main Methods:
- Recorded infrasound from 11 waterfalls.
- Analyzed spectral shapes and power.
- Correlated infrasound characteristics with waterfall height, discharge, and hydraulic power.
- Modeled infrasound propagation and audibility to pigeons.
Main Results:
- Waterfall infrasound exhibits consistent spectral shapes across different falls.
- Infrasound power is proportional to hydraulic power (acoustic efficiency ~10-6).
- Median infrasound frequency relates to height and discharge via negative power laws.
- Infrasound remains detectable up to 10 km, and pigeons may hear it from hundreds to thousands of meters away.
Conclusions:
- Simple relationships exist between infrasound characteristics and waterfall measurements.
- Waterfall infrasound can be used for remote discharge monitoring by hydrologists.
- Infrasound spatial extent can be predicted for ecological impact studies.
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