A system for determining an acoustic signature of a device is disclosed that includes a computer processor operable to determine strength and location of shock wave sound signals based on propagation of sound waves generated by the device. The strength and location of the shock wave signals are modified due to dissipation and dispersion effects in a non-uniform atmosphere. The shock wave signals are separated into even and odd numbered signals, and oscillations in the signals are smoothed by averaging even and odd numbered shock signals.