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Airglow

Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

Articles 1 - 7 of 7

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Numerical And Statistical Evidence For Long-Range Ducted Gravity Wave Propagation Over Halley, Antarctica, J. B. Snively, K. Nielsen, M. P. Hickey, C. J. Heale, M. J. Taylor, T. Moffat-Griffin Sep 2013

Numerical And Statistical Evidence For Long-Range Ducted Gravity Wave Propagation Over Halley, Antarctica, J. B. Snively, K. Nielsen, M. P. Hickey, C. J. Heale, M. J. Taylor, T. Moffat-Griffin

Publications

Abundant short-period, small-scale gravity waves have been identified in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere over Halley, Antarctica, via ground-based airglow image data. Although many are observed as freely propagating at the heights of the airglow layers, new results under modeled conditions reveal that a significant fraction of these waves may be subject to reflections at altitudes above and below.The waves may at times be trapped within broad thermal ducts, spanning from the tropopause or stratopause to the base of the thermosphere (~140 km), which may facilitate long-range propagation (~1000s of km) under favorable wind conditions.


Mesospheric Hydroxyl Airglow Signatures Of Acoustic And Gravity Waves Generated By Transient Tropospheric Forcing, J. B. Snively Sep 2013

Mesospheric Hydroxyl Airglow Signatures Of Acoustic And Gravity Waves Generated By Transient Tropospheric Forcing, J. B. Snively

Publications

"Numerical model results demonstrate that acoustic waves generated by tropospheric sources may produce cylindrical “concentric ring” signatures in the mesospheric hydroxyl airglow layer. They may arrive as precursors to upward propagating gravity waves, generated simultaneously by the same sources, and produce strong temperature perturbations in the thermosphere above. Transient and short-lived, the acoustic wave airglow intensity and temperature signatures are predicted to be detectable by ground-based airglow imaging systems and may provide new insight into the forcing of the upper atmosphere from below."--From publisher's website.


Oh And Oi Airglow Layer Modulation By Ducted Short-Period Gravity Waves: Effects Of Trapping Altitude, Jonathan B. Snively, Victor P. Pasko, Michael J. Taylor Nov 2010

Oh And Oi Airglow Layer Modulation By Ducted Short-Period Gravity Waves: Effects Of Trapping Altitude, Jonathan B. Snively, Victor P. Pasko, Michael J. Taylor

Publications

Perturbations to the OH and OI [O(1S) 557.7 nm] airglow layers by ducted gravity waves near the Brunt‐Väisälä period are investigated using a 2‐D numerical model. Airglow signatures of these waves are strongly determined by perturbations of O, O3, and H, which exhibit peak densities near and above mesopause. Strong periodic vertical wind components of short‐period gravity waves induce opposite relative density perturbations above and below the layer density peaks. Airglow signatures for ducted waves depend on the specific vertical shapes and altitudes of the wave packets relative to ambient species density profiles; waves perturbing only the bottoms or tops …


Atmospheric Airglow Fluctuations Due To A Tsunami‐Driven Gravity Wave Disturbance, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., G. Schubert, R. L. Walterscheid Jun 2010

Atmospheric Airglow Fluctuations Due To A Tsunami‐Driven Gravity Wave Disturbance, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., G. Schubert, R. L. Walterscheid

Publications

A spectral full‐wave model is used to study the upward propagation of a gravity wave disturbance and its effect on atmospheric nightglow emissions. Gravity waves are generated by a surface displacement that mimics a tsunami having a maximum amplitude of 0.5 m, a characteristic horizontal wavelength of 400 km, and a horizontal phase speed of 200 m/s. The gravity wave disturbance can reach F region altitudes before significant viscous dissipation occurs. The response of the OH Meinel nightglow in the mesopause region (∼87 km altitude) produces relative brightness fluctuations, which are ∼1% of the mean for overhead viewing. The wave …


Analysis And Modeling Of Ducted And Evanescent Gravity Waves Observed In The Hawaiian Airglow, D. B. Simkhada, J. B. Snively, M. J. Taylor, S. J. Franke Aug 2009

Analysis And Modeling Of Ducted And Evanescent Gravity Waves Observed In The Hawaiian Airglow, D. B. Simkhada, J. B. Snively, M. J. Taylor, S. J. Franke

Publications

Short-period gravity waves of especially-small horizontal scale have been observed in the Maui, Hawaii airglow. Typical small-scale gravity wave events have been investigated, and intrinsic wave propagation characteristics have been calculated from simultaneous meteor radar wind measurements. Here we report specific cases where wave structure is significantly determined by the local wind structure, and where wave characteristics are consistent with ducted or evanescent waves throughout the mesopause region. Two of the documented events, exhibiting similar airglow signatures but dramatically different propagation conditions, are selected for simple numerical modeling case studies. First, a Doppler-ducted wave trapped within relatively weak wind flow …


Doppler Ducting Of Short-Period Gravity Waves By Midaltitude Tidal Wind Structure, Jonathan B. Snively, Victor P. Pasko, Michael J. Taylor, Wayne K. Hocking Mar 2007

Doppler Ducting Of Short-Period Gravity Waves By Midaltitude Tidal Wind Structure, Jonathan B. Snively, Victor P. Pasko, Michael J. Taylor, Wayne K. Hocking

Publications

Multiwavelength airglow image data depicting a short-period (∼4.9 min) atmospheric gravity wave characterized by a sharp leading front have been analyzed together with synoptic meteor radar wind data recorded simultaneously from Bear Lake Observatory, Utah (41.6°N, 111.6°W). The wind data suggest the presence of a semidiurnal tide with horizontal winds peaking at around 60 m/s along the SSE direction of motion (170° from north) of this short-period wave. It was found that the gravity wave was most probably ducted because of the Doppler shift imposed by this wind structure. A marked 180° phase shift was observed between the near-infrared OH …


A Simulation Study Of Space-Based Observations Of Gravity Waves In The Airglow Using Observed Aloha-93 Wave Parameters, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., J. S. Brown Dec 2002

A Simulation Study Of Space-Based Observations Of Gravity Waves In The Airglow Using Observed Aloha-93 Wave Parameters, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., J. S. Brown

Publications

We use gravity wave parameters derived from the ALOHA-93 campaign to model four gravity waves in airglow emissions as observed from the ground to numerically predict whether these waves could have been observed from space. In spite of encountering critical levels, some waves may still be observed in the airglow provided the critical level lies within the airglow emission region. One of the four waves experiences a critical level in the lower region of an airglow layer such that the disturbance to the volume emission rate would be effectively limited to a short distance along a satellite line of sight. …