Modulation of Gravity Waves by Tides as Seen in CRISTA Temperatures

Abstract

During shuttle missions STS-66 (November, 1994) and STS-85 (August, 1997) the Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere (CRISTA) acquired temperature data with very high spatial resolution. These are analyzed for gravity waves (GW). The altitude range spans the whole middle atmosphere from the tropopause up to the mesopause. In the upper mesosphere tidal amplitudes exceed values of 10 K. Modulation of GW activity by the tides is observed and analyzed using CRISTA temperatures and tidal predictions of the Global Scale Wave Model (GSWM). The modulation process is identified as a tidally-induced change of the background buoyancy frequency. The findings agree well with the expectations for saturated GW and are the first global scale observations of this process.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA529139

Entities

People

  • D. Offermann
  • J. Oberheide
  • M. E. Hagan
  • P. Preusse
  • Stephen D. Eckermann

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Amplitude
  • Atmospheres
  • Buoyancy
  • Climate Change
  • Frequency
  • Gravity Waves
  • Inversion
  • Kalman Filters
  • Latitude
  • Measurement
  • Mesosphere
  • Observation
  • Spectrometers
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Temperature Inversion
  • Three Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science
  • Physics

Readers

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

Technology Areas

  • Space