The Effects of Doppler Shifting on the Frequency Spectra of Atmospheric Gravity Waves.
Abstract
Spectra of atmospheric motions as a function of observed frequency may depart significantly from the spectra as a function of intrinsic frequency due to a nonzero mean wind. This paper examines the effects of Doppler shifting on a model spectrum of atmospheric gravity waves. To gain insight into the effects of Doppler shifting, we derived analytic solutions by approximation of the intrinsic frequency spectra and the gravity wave dispersion relation. Our results reveal that Doppler shifting can have major effects on the observed frequency spectrum of both horizontal and vertical gravity wave energy. For levels of Doppler shifting representative of the lower and middle atmosphere, possible effects include a substantial enhancement of horizontal energy density at higher observed frequencies, a corresponding reduction of the vertical energy density at higher frequencies, and a significant transfer of vertical energy to observed frequencies above the buoyancy frequency. The predicted effects are found to be consistent with some of the features of the observed frequency spectra. Keywords: Anisotropy; Dissipation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA181747
Entities
People
- David C Fritts
- Thomas E. Van Zandt
Organizations
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration