Gravity waves in a realistic atmosphere

Abstract

The atmospheric winds at ionospheric altitudes exhibit irregular short‐period wavelike components that have been observed through their distortion of meteor ionization trails and rocket vapor trails. An explanation for these components was proposed by Hines in his theory for internal atmospheric gravity waves in an isothermal medium. The isothermal theory is refined here to unify the treatment of acoustic, gravity, and evanescent waves in a gravitational atmosphere and to explain the physical processes behind these atmospheric motions. A technique is developed for the solution of the complete hydrodynamic equations that avoids the fatal difficulties normally caused by ‘Viscous waves’ and their thermal counterpart. This technique is used to solve the general problem of gravity wave propagation in a realistic atmosphere for a wide range of wave parameters. The height of maximum wind amplitude and the fraction of reflected energy have been plotted from the results of these calculations. These maxima are also compared with simpler analytic approximations and experimental observations.

Long-term MST radar observations of vertical wave number spectra of gravity waves in the tropical troposphere over Gadanki (13.5° N, 79.2° E): comparison with model spectra

“…The important aspects of these studies include: propagation characteristics of gravity waves in the realistic atmosphere (Midgley and Liemohn, 1966;Hines and Reddy, 1967;Lindzen, 1970), wave-mean flow interactions (Booker and Bretherton, 1967;Lindzen, 1973;Dunkerton, 1980;McIntyre, 1980), generation of turbulence and enhanced diffusion (Weinstock, 1976;Lindzen, 1981) and wave saturation and its effects (Fritts, 1984;Fritts and Rastogi, 1985). In recent years, the Rayleigh lidar technique has emerged as an effective means to study the gravity wave activity in the middle atmosphere over the height range of 30-70 km Hauchecorne, 1981, 1991;Wilson et al, 1990a, b;Gardner et al, 1989;Whiteway and Carswell, 1995;McDonald et al, 1998;Sivakumar et al, 2006;Ramkumar et al, 2006;Antonita et al, 2007).…”

Carbon dioxide density and 15.MU. band radiation in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere.

“…1. Below 100km, we determine this value considering the results by JOHNSON and WILKINS (1965) and MIDGLEY and LIEMON (1966). Above 100km we choose the profile which rapidly decreases after KENESEA and ZIMMERMAN (1970).…”

Effects of Winds on Atmospheric Pressure Waves Produced by Hydrogen Bombs

“…The flatearth and stratification assumptions limit the validity of our analysis to Al-waves. With these assumptions the hydrodynamical equations can be reduced to a set of six ordinary differential equations (Midgley and Liemohn 1966).…”