scholarly journals Intra-annual variations of spectrally resolved gravity wave activity in the upper mesosphere/lower thermosphere (UMLT) region

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5117-5128
Author(s):  
René Sedlak ◽  
Alexandra Zuhr ◽  
Carsten Schmidt ◽  
Sabine Wüst ◽  
Michael Bittner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Wave ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Wave Spectrum ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Wave Activity ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Period Range

Abstract. The period range between 6 and 480 min is known to represent the major part of the gravity wave spectrum driving mesospheric dynamics. We present a method using wavelet analysis to calculate gravity wave activity with a high period resolution and apply it to temperature data acquired with the OH* airglow spectrometers called GRIPS (GRound-based Infrared P-branch Spectrometer) within the framework of the NDMC (Network for the Detection of Mesospheric Change; https://ndmc.dlr.de, last access: 22 September 2020). We analyse data measured at the NDMC sites Abastumani in Georgia (ABA; 41.75∘ N, 42.82∘ E), ALOMAR (Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmosphere Research) in Norway (ALR; 69.28∘ N, 16.01∘ E), Neumayer Station III in the Antarctic (NEU; 70.67∘ S, 8.27∘ W), Observatoire de Haute-Provence in France (OHP; 43.93∘ N, 5.71∘ E), Oberpfaffenhofen in Germany (OPN; 48.09∘ N, 11.28∘ E), Sonnblick in Austria (SBO; 47.05∘ N, 12.95∘ E), Tel Aviv in Israel (TAV; 32.11∘ N, 34.80∘ E), and the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus on top of Zugspitze mountain in Germany (UFS; 47.42∘ N, 10.98∘ E). All eight instruments are identical in construction and deliver consistent and comparable data sets. For periods shorter than 60 min, gravity wave activity is found to be relatively low and hardly shows any seasonal variability on the timescale of months. We find a semi-annual cycle with maxima during winter and summer for gravity waves with periods longer than 60 min, which gradually develops into an annual cycle with a winter maximum for longer periods. The transition from a semi-annual pattern to a primarily annual pattern starts around a gravity wave period of 200 min. Although there are indications of enhanced gravity wave sources above mountainous terrain, the overall pattern of gravity wave activity does not differ significantly for the abovementioned observation sites. Thus, large-scale mechanisms such as stratospheric wind filtering seem to dominate the evolution of mesospheric gravity wave activity.

scholarly journals Intra-annual variations of spectrally resolved gravity wave activity in the UMLT region

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
René Sedlak ◽  
Alexandra Zuhr ◽  
Carsten Schmidt ◽  
Sabine Wüst ◽  
Michael Bittner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Wave ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Wave Spectrum ◽  
Wave Activity ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Period Range ◽  
Annual Variations ◽  
Spectrally Resolved

Abstract. The period range between 6 min and 480 min is known to represent the major part of the gravity wave spectrum driving mesospheric dynamics. We present a method using wavelet analysis to calculate gravity wave activity with a high period-resolution and apply it to temperature data acquired with the OH* airglow spectrometers GRIPS (GRound-based Infrared P-branch Spectrometer) within the framework of the NDMC (Network for the Detection of Mesospheric Change; https://ndmc.dlr.de). We analyse data measured at the NDMC sites Abastumani in Georgia (ABA, 41.75° N, 42.82° E), ALOMAR in Norway (ALR, 69.28° N, 16.01° E), Neumayer III in the Antarctic (NEU, 70.67° S, 8.27° W), Observatoire de Haute-Provence in France (OHP, 43.93° N, 5.71° E), Oberpfaffenhofen in Germany (OPN, 48.09° N, 11.28° E), Sonnblick in Austria (SBO, 47.05° N, 12.95° E), Tel Aviv in Israel (TAV, 32.11° N, 34.80° E), and the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus on top of Mt. Zugspitze, Germany (UFS, 47.42° N, 10.98° E). All eight instruments are identical in construction and deliver consistent and comparable data sets. For periods shorter than 60 min, gravity wave activity is found to be relatively low and hardly shows any seasonal variability on the time scale of months. We find a semi-annual cycle with maxima during winter and summer for gravity waves with periods longer than 60 min, which gradually develops into an annual cycle with a winter maximum for longer periods. The transition from a semi-annual pattern to a primarily annual pattern occurs around a gravity wave period of 200 min. Although there are indications of enhanced gravity wave sources above mountainous terrain, the overall pattern of gravity wave activity does not differ significantly for the abovementioned observation sites. Thus, large-scale mechanisms such as stratospheric wind filtering seem to dominate the temporal course of mesospheric gravity wave activity.

scholarly journals The MaCWAVE program to study gravity wave influences on the polar mesosphere

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 1159-1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Goldberg ◽  
D. C. Fritts ◽  
F. J. Schmidlin ◽  
B. P. Williams ◽  
C. L. Croskey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Wave ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Planetary Wave ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Wave Structure ◽  
Wave Activity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mountain Waves ◽  
The Mean

Abstract. MaCWAVE (Mountain and Convective Waves Ascending VErtically) was a highly coordinated rocket, ground-based, and satellite program designed to address gravity wave forcing of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT). The MaCWAVE program was conducted at the Norwegian Andøya Rocket Range (ARR, 69.3° N) in July 2002, and continued at the Swedish Rocket Range (Esrange, 67.9° N) during January 2003. Correlative instrumentation included the ALOMAR MF and MST radars and RMR and Na lidars, Esrange MST and meteor radars and RMR lidar, radiosondes, and TIMED (Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics) satellite measurements of thermal structures. The data have been used to define both the mean fields and the wave field structures and turbulence generation leading to forcing of the large-scale flow. In summer, launch sequences coupled with ground-based measurements at ARR addressed the forcing of the summer mesopause environment by anticipated convective and shear generated gravity waves. These motions were measured with two 12-h rocket sequences, each involving one Terrier-Orion payload accompanied by a mix of MET rockets, all at ARR in Norway. The MET rockets were used to define the temperature and wind structure of the stratosphere and mesosphere. The Terrier-Orions were designed to measure small-scale plasma fluctuations and turbulence that might be induced by wave breaking in the mesosphere. For the summer series, three European MIDAS (Middle Atmosphere Dynamics and Structure) rockets were also launched from ARR in coordination with the MaCWAVE payloads. These were designed to measure plasma and neutral turbulence within the MLT. The summer program exhibited a number of indications of significant departures of the mean wind and temperature structures from ``normal" polar summer conditions, including an unusually warm mesopause and a slowing of the formation of polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE) and noctilucent clouds (NLC). This was suggested to be due to enhanced planetary wave activity in the Southern Hemisphere and a surprising degree of inter-hemispheric coupling. The winter program was designed to study the upward propagation and penetration of mountain waves from northern Scandinavia into the MLT at a site favored for such penetration. As the major response was expected to be downstream (east) of Norway, these motions were measured with similar rocket sequences to those used in the summer campaign, but this time at Esrange. However, a major polar stratospheric warming just prior to the rocket launch window induced small or reversed stratospheric zonal winds, which prevented mountain wave penetration into the mesosphere. Instead, mountain waves encountered critical levels at lower altitudes and the observed wave structure in the mesosphere originated from other sources. For example, a large-amplitude semidiurnal tide was observed in the mesosphere on 28 and 29 January, and appears to have contributed to significant instability and small-scale structures at higher altitudes. The resulting energy deposition was found to be competitive with summertime values. Hence, our MaCWAVE measurements as a whole are the first to characterize influences in the MLT region of planetary wave activity and related stratospheric warmings during both winter and summer.

scholarly journals Large-Scale Waves in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Observed by SABER

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (12) ◽  
pp. 4384-4399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolando R. Garcia ◽  
Ruth Lieberman ◽  
James M. Russell ◽  
Martin G. Mlynczak
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Normal Modes ◽  
Zonal Winds ◽  
Broadband Emission ◽  
Summer Hemisphere ◽  
Mean Structure ◽  
Mesosphere And Lower Thermosphere ◽  
The Tropics

Abstract Observations made by the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument on board NASA’s Thermosphere–Ionosphere–Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite have been processed using Salby’s fast Fourier synoptic mapping (FFSM) algorithm. The mapped data provide a first synoptic look at the mean structure and traveling waves of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) since the launch of the TIMED satellite in December 2001. The results show the presence of various wave modes in the MLT, which reach largest amplitude above the mesopause and include Kelvin and Rossby–gravity waves, eastward-propagating diurnal oscillations (“non-sun-synchronous tides”), and a set of quasi-normal modes associated with the so-called 2-day wave. The latter exhibits marked seasonal variability, attaining large amplitudes during the solstices and all but disappearing at the equinoxes. SABER data also show a strong quasi-stationary Rossby wave signal throughout the middle atmosphere of the winter hemisphere; the signal extends into the Tropics and even into the summer hemisphere in the MLT, suggesting ducting by westerly background zonal winds. At certain times of the year, the 5-day Rossby normal mode and the 4-day wave associated with instability of the polar night jet are also prominent in SABER data.

scholarly journals Enhanced gravity-wave activity and interhemispheric coupling during the MaCWAVE/MIDAS northern summer program 2002

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 1175-1188 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Becker ◽  
D. C. Fritts
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Wave ◽  
Rossby Wave ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Wave Activity ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Summer Program ◽  
Latent Heating ◽  
Austral Winter ◽  
Northern Summer ◽  
Mesosphere And Lower Thermosphere

Abstract. We present new sensitivity experiments that link observed anomalies of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at high latitudes during the MaCWAVE/MIDAS summer program 2002 to enhanced planetary Rossby-wave activity in the austral winter troposphere. We employ the same general concept of a GCM having simplified representations of radiative and latent heating as in a previous study by Becker et al. (2004). In the present version, however, the model includes no gravity wave (GW) parameterization. Instead we employ a high vertical and a moderate horizontal resolution in order to describe GW effects explicitly. This is supported by advanced, nonlinear momentum diffusion schemes that allow for a self-consistent generation of inertia and mid-frequency GWs in the lower atmosphere, their vertical propagation into the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, and their subsequent dissipation which is induced by prescribed horizontal and vertical mixing lengths as functions of height. The main anomalies in northern summer 2002 consist of higher temperatures than usual above 82 km, an anomalous eastward mean zonal wind between 70 and 90 km, an altered meridional flow, enhanced turbulent dissipation below 80 km, and enhanced temperature variations associated with GWs. These signals are all reasonably described by differences between two long-integration perpetual model runs, one with normal July conditions, and another run with modified latent heating in the tropics and Southern Hemisphere to mimic conditions that correspond to the unusual austral winter 2002. The model response to the enhanced winter hemisphere Rossby-wave activity has resulted in both an interhemispheric coupling through a downward shift of the GW-driven branch of the residual circulation and an increased GW activity at high summer latitudes. Thus a quantitative explanation of the dynamical state of the northern mesosphere and lower thermosphere during June-August 2002 requires an enhanced Lorenz energy cycle and correspondingly enhanced GW sources in the troposphere, which in the model show up in both hemispheres.

scholarly journals Sea surface temperature as a proxy for convective gravity wave excitation: a study based on global gravity wave observations in the middle atmosphere

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1373-1394 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Y. Jia ◽  
P. Preusse ◽  
M. Ern ◽  
H.-Y. Chun ◽  
J. C. Gille ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Sea Surface Temperature ◽  
Gravity Wave ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Broadband Emission ◽  
Global Gravity ◽  
Ray Tracing Simulation

Abstract. Absolute values of gravity wave momentum flux (GWMF) deduced from satellite measurements by the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument and the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) are correlated with sea surface temperature (SST) with the aim of identifying those oceanic regions for which convection is a major source of gravity waves (GWs). Our study identifies those latitude bands where high correlation coefficients indicate convective excitation with confidence. This is based on a global ray-tracing simulation, which is used to delineate the source and wind-filtering effects. Convective GWs are identified at the eastern coasts of the continents and over the warm water regions formed by the warm ocean currents, in particular the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio. Potential contributions of tropical cyclones to the excitation of the GWs are discussed. Convective excitation can be identified well into the mid-mesosphere. In propagating upward, the centers of GWMF formed by convection shift poleward. Some indications of the main forcing regions are even shown for the upper mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT).

scholarly journals Polar-night O<sub>3</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub> and NO<sub>3</sub> distributions during sudden stratospheric warmings in 2003–2008 as seen by GOMOS/Envisat

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1051-1066 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. F. Sofieva ◽  
N. Kalakoski ◽  
P. T. Verronen ◽  
S.-M. Päivärinta ◽  
E. Kyrölä ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Lower Thermosphere ◽  
Polar Vortex ◽  
Strong Mixing ◽  
Mixing Processes ◽  
Time Changes

Abstract. Sudden stratospheric warmings (SSW) are large-scale transient events, which have a profound effect on the Northern Hemisphere stratospheric circulation in winter. During the SSW events the temperature in stratosphere increases by several tens of Kelvins and zonal winds decelerate or reverse in direction. Changes in temperature and dynamics significantly affect the chemical composition of the middle atmosphere. In this paper, the response of the middle-atmosphere trace gases during several sudden stratospheric warmings in 2003–2008 is investigated using measurements from the GOMOS (Global Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars) instrument on board the Envisat satellite. We have analyzed spatial and temporal changes of NO2 and NO3 in the stratosphere, and of ozone in the whole middle atmosphere. To facilitate our analyses, we have used the temperature profiles data from the MLS (Microwave Limb Sounder) instrument on board the Aura satellite, as well as simulations by the FinROSE chemistry-transport model and the Sodankylä Ion and Neutral Chemistry model (SIC). NO3 observations in the polar winter stratosphere during SSWs are reported for the first time. Changes in chemical composition are found not to be restricted to the stratosphere, but to extend to mesosphere and lower thermosphere. They often exhibit a complicated structure, because the distribution of trace gases is affected by changes in both chemistry and dynamics. The tertiary ozone maximum in the mesosphere often disappears with the onset of SSW, probably because of strong mixing processes. The strong horizontal mixing with outside-vortex air is well observed also in NO2 data, especially in cases of enhanced NO2 inside the polar vortex before SSW. Almost in all of the considered events, ozone near the secondary maximum decreases with onset of SSW. In both experimental data and FinROSE modelling, ozone changes are positively correlated with temperature changes in the lower stratosphere in the dynamically controlled region below ~35 km, and they are negatively correlated with temperature in the upper stratosphere (altitudes 35–50 km), where chemical processes play a significant role. Large enhancements of stratospheric NO3, which strongly correlate with temperature enhancements, are observed for all SSWs, as expected by the current understanding of temperature-dependence of NO3 concentrations and simulations with the CTM.

scholarly journals Intercomparison of AIRS and HIRDLS stratospheric gravity wave observations

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 215-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catrin I. Meyer ◽  
Manfred Ern ◽  
Lars Hoffmann ◽  
Quang Thai Trinh ◽  
M. Joan Alexander
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Gravity Wave ◽  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Momentum Flux ◽  
Wave Spectrum ◽  
Horizontal Resolution ◽  
Wave Activity ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Wave Event ◽  
The Waves

Abstract. We investigate stratospheric gravity wave observations by the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) aboard NASA's Aqua satellite and the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) aboard NASA's Aura satellite. AIRS operational temperature retrievals are typically not used for studies of gravity waves, because their vertical and horizontal resolution is rather limited. This study uses data of a high-resolution retrieval which provides stratospheric temperature profiles for each individual satellite footprint. Therefore the horizontal sampling of the high-resolution retrieval is 9 times better than that of the operational retrieval. HIRDLS provides 2-D spectral information of observed gravity waves in terms of along-track and vertical wavelengths. AIRS as a nadir sounder is more sensitive to short-horizontal-wavelength gravity waves, and HIRDLS as a limb sounder is more sensitive to short-vertical-wavelength gravity waves. Therefore HIRDLS is ideally suited to complement AIRS observations. A calculated momentum flux factor indicates that the waves seen by AIRS contribute significantly to momentum flux, even if the AIRS temperature variance may be small compared to HIRDLS. The stratospheric wave structures observed by AIRS and HIRDLS often agree very well. Case studies of a mountain wave event and a non-orographic wave event demonstrate that the observed phase structures of AIRS and HIRDLS are also similar. AIRS has a coarser vertical resolution, which results in an attenuation of the amplitude and coarser vertical wavelengths than for HIRDLS. However, AIRS has a much higher horizontal resolution, and the propagation direction of the waves can be clearly identified in geographical maps. The horizontal orientation of the phase fronts can be deduced from AIRS 3-D temperature fields. This is a restricting factor for gravity wave analyses of limb measurements. Additionally, temperature variances with respect to stratospheric gravity wave activity are compared on a statistical basis. The complete HIRDLS measurement period from January 2005 to March 2008 is covered. The seasonal and latitudinal distributions of gravity wave activity as observed by AIRS and HIRDLS agree well. A strong annual cycle at mid- and high latitudes is found in time series of gravity wave variances at 42 km, which has its maxima during wintertime and its minima during summertime. The variability is largest during austral wintertime at 60∘ S. Variations in the zonal winds at 2.5 hPa are associated with large variability in gravity wave variances. Altogether, gravity wave variances of AIRS and HIRDLS are complementary to each other. Large parts of the gravity wave spectrum are covered by joint observations. This opens up fascinating vistas for future gravity wave research.

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