In short: Infrasound sensors detect low-frequency sound between 0.01 Hz and 20 Hz produced by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, avalanches and landslides, and by industrial HVAC plants, wind turbines, heavy traffic and the shifting resonance of bridges and dams. These waves travel thousands of miles with little energy loss, so a 24-bit instrument such as the QuakeLogic AIR 2.0 records events far beyond the reach of ordinary microphones.
The world is full of sounds that human ears cannot perceive. While we typically hear acoustic frequencies between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, a vast world of acoustic data exists below this threshold. This spectrum is known as infrasound. Specifically, infrasound consists of low-frequency sound waves ranging from 0.01 Hz up to 20 Hz. Because these waves travel massive distances without losing energy, tracking them unlocks critical insights into our environment. Therefore, understanding what infrasound can detect is essential for industries, researchers, and everyday homeowners who want to utilize this powerful data.
What Can Infrasound Detect Exactly?
Infrasound sensors pick up acoustic energy generated by massive natural events, industrial machinery, and atmospheric disturbances. Because low-frequency waves bypass normal acoustic barriers, they can reveal occurrences thousands of miles away. As a result, this technology serves as a vital tool across multiple sectors.
1. Natural Disasters and Environmental Phenomena
Nature is one of the largest producers of low-frequency sound waves. Consequently, infrasound monitors can accurately detect and track:
- Volcanic Eruptions: Eruptions release massive bursts of infrasonic energy, allowing scientists to monitor remote volcanoes safely.
- Earthquakes and Seismic Activity: Before and during seismic events, tectonic movements release low-frequency waves into the atmosphere.
- Severe Weather: Tornadoes, hurricanes, and severe thunderstorms generate unique infrasonic signatures that aid in early warning systems.
- Avalanches and Landslides: The sudden movement of massive snow or earth volumes can be detected long before they are visually confirmed.
2. Low-Frequency Noise Harassment and Industrial Sources
In urban and residential areas, human-made infrastructure generates constant, subtle vibrations. Consequently, many people experience unexplained sleep disruption or anxiety caused by “the hum.” Fortunately, advanced infrasound technology can easily identify:
- Industrial Machinery: Large HVAC systems, cooling towers, and heavy manufacturing equipment.
- Wind Turbines: Renewable energy farms produce continuous low-frequency waves that can disturb nearby residents.
- Traffic and Infrastructure Noise: Heavy highway traffic, trains, and bridge vibrations.
3. Structural Health and Asset Monitoring
Moreover, engineers use infrasound to monitor structural integrity. Because structural failures begin with micro-fissures and changing resonance frequencies, sensors detect anomalies in bridges, dams, and skyscrapers before visible damage occurs.
Introducing QuakeLogic AIR 2.0: Professional-Grade Infrasound Detection
Historically, capturing these ultra-low frequencies required massive, overly complex, and expensive laboratory hardware. However, the QuakeLogic AIR 2.0 Infrasound Monitor changes the narrative completely by making professional-grade infrasound detection accessible to everyone.
The QuakeLogic AIR 2.0 is an affordable, powerful, and easy-to-use standalone monitoring system built for field measurement, structural monitoring, environmental observation, and personal safety.
Advanced Specifications for Uncompromising Precision
To deliver credible data for legal investigation, research instrumentation, or engineering, the AIR 2.0 boasts impressive technical components:
| Hardware Features | Advanced Technical Specifications |
| 24-Bit Digitizer | ADC Resolution: 24-bit Delta-Sigma (Cirrus Logic CS5532) |
| High-Sensitivity Sensor | Sensor Type: Differential Pressure Infrasound Sensor |
| Web GUI Dashboard | Operating System: Secure Linux BBshark 5.10.63+ |
| Real-Time Data Streaming | Digital Filters: Low-pass (0.01–24 Hz), High-pass (0.02–49 Hz) |
| Automated Heliplots | Sampling Rate: 50 / 100 / 200 samples per second |
| Ultra-Compact Design | Form Factor: 100 × 100 × 107 mm | Weight: ~410 g | Power: 1.75 W |
Key Benefits of Using QuakeLogic for Infrasound Detection
Modern Web-Based GUI (No Coding Required)
Unlike traditional instruments that require programming knowledge, the AIR 2.0 includes a completely redesigned, intuitive web dashboard. For instance, users can easily view live system status, inspect CPU temperatures, and read responsive real-time waveform updates directly in decibel-G (dBG) format.
Automated Data Visualizations
Analyzing long-term acoustic patterns is simplified with automated 24-hour Heliplot and Spectrogram generation. In addition, the system automatically archives a 7-day spectrogram history, displayed in clean 12-hour segments, allowing you to pinpoint the exact moment a low-frequency noise event occurs.
Seamless Software & Network Integration
The device features an integrated on-board data repository with flexible API connectivity. Furthermore, it supports standard MiniSEED real-time streaming, making it instantly compatible with global scientific platforms such as Earthworm, WinSDR, Swarm, and ObsPy. Deploying remote monitoring arrays is also straightforward thanks to built-in Wi-Fi and optional Ethernet connectivity.
Why Choose QuakeLogic?
This product perfectly demonstrates QuakeLogic’s unique ability to deliver full-cycle engineering solutions that seamlessly combine hardware, software, and AI into a unified system. From initial concept to final field commissioning, every single component is designed for absolute precision, long-term reliability, and unmatched field performance.
Whether you are an engineer protecting critical assets, a researcher tracking global atmospheric shifts, or a property owner gathering evidence against low-frequency noise harassment, we provide the tools you need.
Explore our full range of monitoring solutions or contact QuakeLogic today to discuss your custom project needs and secure your infrasound monitoring infrastructure.
Email us at sales@quakelogic.net | Visit us at products.QuakeLogic.net
Key Takeaways
- Infrasound spans 0.01–20 Hz, below the 20 Hz lower limit of human hearing, and travels thousands of miles with little energy loss.
- Natural sources include volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, avalanches and landslides; man-made sources include HVAC, wind turbines and traffic.
- Changing resonance frequencies and micro-fissures in bridges, dams and skyscrapers show up in infrasound before visible damage.
- The AIR 2.0 uses a 24-bit Cirrus Logic CS5532 ADC, a differential pressure sensor and 50/100/200 sps sampling in a 410 g unit.
- It streams MiniSEED to Earthworm, WinSDR, Swarm and ObsPy and auto-generates 24-hour heliplots and a 7-day spectrogram archive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Infrasound is sound below 20 Hz, the lower limit of human hearing; in practice monitors cover roughly 0.01 Hz to 20 Hz. Human hearing spans about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, so infrasound is felt or detected by instruments rather than heard. Because low frequencies lose little energy over distance, infrasound from a volcano or storm can be recorded thousands of miles from the source.
Yes. Eruptions release large bursts of infrasonic energy that let scientists monitor remote volcanoes safely, and tectonic movement before and during earthquakes couples low-frequency pressure waves into the atmosphere. Avalanches and landslides are also detectable before they are visually confirmed. Infrasound therefore complements seismometers in natural hazard monitoring networks.
Infrasound monitors can identify common sources of "the hum", including large HVAC systems, cooling towers, heavy manufacturing equipment, wind turbines, highway traffic, trains and bridge vibration. A monitor such as the AIR 2.0 logs continuous waveforms, 24-hour heliplots and a 7-day spectrogram archive, so you can match the time and frequency of a disturbance to a candidate source.
The AIR 2.0 pairs a differential pressure infrasound sensor with a 24-bit Delta-Sigma Cirrus Logic CS5532 digitizer, sampling at 50, 100 or 200 samples per second with low-pass (0.01–24 Hz) and high-pass (0.02–49 Hz) digital filters. It runs Linux with a web GUI, streams MiniSEED, measures 100 × 100 × 107 mm, weighs about 410 g and draws 1.75 W.
Structural failures begin with micro-fissures and shifts in a structure's resonance frequencies. Infrasound sensors placed on or near bridges, dams and skyscrapers pick up these low-frequency changes before visible damage appears, giving engineers early warning. Continuous recording also documents how a structure responds to wind, traffic and seismic loading over time.
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