AbstractAcoustic wave generation by turbulence in a stratified, moist atmosphere is studied. It is shown that, in saturated moist air turbulence, in addition to the Lighthill's quadrupole and dipole sources of sound (related to stratification and temperature fluctuations), there exist monopole sources related to heat and mass production during the condensation of moisture. We determine the acoustic power of these monopole sources and show that this radiation is dominant for typical parameters of strong convective storms. The results are in good qualitative agreement with the main observed characteristics of infrasound radiation by strong convective storms, e.g. total acoustic power and characteristic frequency. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society