Acoustic shadow

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. A gobo refers to a movable acoustic isolation panel and that makes an acoustic shadow. 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 the corresponding roar of battle, while those in more distant locations would hear the sounds distinctly.^[3]

Further reading

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

External links

• Acoustic Shadows - What is an acoustic shadow and how does it work? - Lisa
• Acoustic Shadow
• Civil War Acoustic Shadows

References

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