Global Gravity Wave "Weather" in the Middle Atmosphere: Preliminary Insights from the CRISTA-SPAS Missions

Abstract

We describe a preliminary analysis of small-scale temperature perturbations in the stratosphere produced by long wavelength gravity waves, as measured globally during the CRISTA-SPAS missions. We focus on enhanced activity observed at the equator and near the southern tip of South America. Global ray-tracing simulations for the mission days indicate that the equatorial activity is broadly consistent with the transmission of nonzero phase speed waves into the stratosphere. Ray-tracing and mountain wave model simulations indicate that the activity over South America is produced by long wavelength mountain waves forced by flow over the Andes. The results suggest that study of global gravity wave "weather" in the middle atmosphere may soon be feasible.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA526972

Entities

People

  • Bernd Schaeler
  • Dave Broutman
  • Dirk Offerman
  • Jens Oberheide
  • Julio T. Bacmeister
  • Peter Preusse
  • Stephen D. Eckermann

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Atmospheres
  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Earth Sciences
  • Environment
  • Frequency
  • Gravity
  • Gravity Waves
  • Infrared Spectrometers
  • Long Wavelengths
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Mountains
  • Ray Tracing
  • Simulations
  • South America
  • Stratosphere

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space