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Observational indications of downward-propagating gravity waves in middle atmosphere lidar data

Kaifler, Natalie and Kaifler, Bernd and Ehard, Benedikt and Gisinger, Sonja and Dörnbrack, Andreas and Rapp, Markus and Kivi, Rigel and Kozlovsky, Alexander and Lester, M. and Liley, Ben (2017) Observational indications of downward-propagating gravity waves in middle atmosphere lidar data. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 162, pp. 16-27. Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jastp.2017.03.003. ISSN 1364-6826.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2017.03.003

Abstract

Two Rayleigh lidars were employed at a southern-hemisphere mid-latitude site in New Zealand (45 °S) and a northern-hemisphere high-latitude site in Finland (67 °N) in order to observe gravity waves between 30 and 85 km altitude under wintertime conditions. Two-dimensional wavelet analysis is used to analyze temperature perturbations caused by gravity waves and to determine their vertical wavelengths and phase progression. In both datasets, upward phase progression waves occur frequently between 30 and 85 km altitude. Six cases of large-amplitude wave packets are selected which exhibit upward phase progression in the stratosphere and/or mesosphere. We argue that these wave packets propagate downward and we discuss possible wave generation mechanisms. Spectral analysis reveals that superpositions of two or three wave packets are common. Furthermore, their characteristics often match those of upward-propagating waves which are observed at the same time or earlier. In the dataset means, the contribution of upward phase progression waves to the potential energy density Ep is largest in the lower stratosphere above Finland. There, Ep of upward and downward phase progression waves is comparable. At 85 km one third of the potential energy carried by propagating waves is attributed to upward phase progression waves. In some cases Ep of upward phase progression waves far exceeds Ep of downward phase progression waves. The downward-propagating waves might be generated in situ in the middle atmosphere or arise from reflection of upward-propagating waves.

Item URL in elib:https://elib.dlr.de/111473/
Document Type:Article
Title:Observational indications of downward-propagating gravity waves in middle atmosphere lidar data
Authors:
AuthorsInstitution or Email of AuthorsAuthor's ORCID iDORCID Put Code
Kaifler, NatalieDLR, IPAhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3118-6480UNSPECIFIED
Kaifler, BerndDLR, IPAhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5891-242XUNSPECIFIED
Ehard, BenediktDLR, IPAhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0517-8134UNSPECIFIED
Gisinger, SonjaDLR, IPAhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8188-4458UNSPECIFIED
Dörnbrack, AndreasDLR, IPAhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0936-0216UNSPECIFIED
Rapp, MarkusDLR, IPAUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Kivi, RigelFinnish Meteorological Institute, Sodankylä, Finlandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8828-2759UNSPECIFIED
Kozlovsky, AlexanderSodankylä Geophysical Observatory, Finlandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1468-7600UNSPECIFIED
Lester, M.University Leicester, United Kingdomhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7353-5549UNSPECIFIED
Liley, BenNIWA, Lauder, New Zealandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8844-7928UNSPECIFIED
Date:10 March 2017
Journal or Publication Title:Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
Refereed publication:Yes
Open Access:Yes
Gold Open Access:No
In SCOPUS:Yes
In ISI Web of Science:Yes
Volume:162
DOI:10.1016/j.jastp.2017.03.003
Page Range:pp. 16-27
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:1364-6826
Status:Published
Keywords:Gravity waves; Middle atmosphere; Lidar; Downward-propagating waves
HGF - Research field:Aeronautics, Space and Transport
HGF - Program:Space
HGF - Program Themes:Earth Observation
DLR - Research area:Raumfahrt
DLR - Program:R EO - Earth Observation
DLR - Research theme (Project):R - Atmospheric and climate research
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen
Institutes and Institutions:Institute of Atmospheric Physics > Lidar
Institute of Atmospheric Physics > Transport Meteorology
Deposited By: Kaifler, Dr. Natalie
Deposited On:13 Mar 2017 20:28
Last Modified:27 Nov 2023 11:58

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