Investigation of gravity wave activity based on operational radiosonde data from 13 years (1997-2009): climatology and possible induced variability

Kurzfassung

Atmospheric gravity waves (GWs) are important for the Dynamics of the atmosphere. The analysis of 13 years of routine radiosonde data from Prague (50.01° N, 14.27° E) with temporal highly resolved temperature, pressure and wind measurements is presented in order to derive a climatology of gravity wave activity in the lower tratosphere. An annual cycle with a maximum during winter and a minimum during summer is identified. Gravity wave activity is twice as high during winter as during summer. When analyzing individual years, maxima of gravity wave activity and vertical flux of horizontal momentum often appears together with minima in surface pressure. We speculate therefore that at least parts of the interannual variations of gravity wave activity are due to cyclones. These findings are encouraged by the results of wavelet analysis. They show similar periods in vertical flux of horizontal momentum and pressure variance time series. These features may be attributed to planetary waves.