Direct Experimental Evidence for an Atmospheric Gravity Wave Cascade
Abstract
The saturated-cascade theory for atmospheric gravity wave (GW) spectra combines the physics of wave saturation with that of wave-wave interactions (the latter being in the form of a cascade). This theory successfully explained the slopes of 11 classes of measured GW spectra, the variability of some spectra compared to the quasi-universality of certain other spectra, and finally, the observed association between wavelength and wave period in individual wave observations. Unfortunately, the cascade properties in this theory have heretofore received only indirect confirmation in spite of the fact that direct evidence could be obtained by experimental means using today's technology. In this report, the available direct experimental evidence for the wave cascade that is now available in the papers by Nastrom et al. and Bacmeister et al. is examined, and further tests along these lines are suggested.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 27, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA372696
Entities
People
- Edmond M. Dewan
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory