A Search for Strange Attractors in the Saturation of Middle Atmosphere Gravity Waves
Abstract
We searched for evidence of a strange attractor associated with the saturation of middle atmosphere gravity waves in the echo data from a partial reflection radar located in Saskatoon, Canada. Theiler's extension of the Grassberger-Procaccia correlation integral algorithm was used to estimate the fractal dimension of the attractor. Breaking gravity waves are thought to decay to turbulence, transporting momentum from the lower to upper atmosphere. By extending laboratory study results to middle atmosphere gravity waves, it seems reasonable to expect to find a strange attractor in gravity wave saturation. Echo data was analyzed because it offered a high sampling rate. The Grassberger- Procaccia algorithm places stringent requirements upon the amount of data necessary to obtain an accurate estimate of the system dimension; a large number of points is required. We did not detect a strange attractor with dimension <3 in the data from the Saskatoon partial reflection radar for the time scales (6 min 39 s) which were studied. This study can not assert that a strange attractors is absent in gravity wave absorption. Data requirements to implement the Grassberger Procaccia algorithm make it unlikely that such an attractor, if it exists, will be detected.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA232468
Entities
People
- Jason P. Tuell
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology