Acoustic shadow

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

An acoustic shadow is an area through which sound waves fail to propagate, due to topographical obstructions or disruption of the waves via phenomena such as wind currents. As one website refers to it, "an acoustic shadow is to sound what a mirage is to light".[1] For example, at the Battle of Iuka, a northerly wind prevented General Ulysses S. Grant from hearing the sounds of battle and sending more troops. Many other instances of acoustic shadowing were prevalent during the American Civil War, including the Battles of Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, Perryville and Five Forks. Indeed, this is addressed in the Ken Burns's documentary The Civil War, produced by Florentine Films and aired on PBS in September 1990.[2] Observers of nearby battles would sometimes see the smoke and flashes of light from cannon but not hear the corresponding roar of battle, while those in more distant locations would hear the sounds distinctly.[3]

Further reading[edit]

Garrison Jr., Webb, Strange Battles of the Civil War, Cumberland House, 2001, ISBN 1-58182-226-X

See also[edit]

External links[edit]


  1. ^ "Science Over the Edge: A Roundup of Strange Science for the Month". January 2004. Retrieved 23 January 2012. 
  2. ^ "The Civil War". Florentine Films. Retrieved 23 January 2012. 
  3. ^ Discussed in narration at the start of the documentary's fifth episode, "The Universe of Battle."