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Gravity waves

1995

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Physics

Determination Of Horizontal And Vertical Structure Of A Novel Pattern Of Short Period Gravity Waves Imaged During Aloha-93, Michael J. Taylor, D. C. Fritts, J. R. Isler Oct 1995

Determination Of Horizontal And Vertical Structure Of A Novel Pattern Of Short Period Gravity Waves Imaged During Aloha-93, Michael J. Taylor, D. C. Fritts, J. R. Isler

All Physics Faculty Publications

An all‐sky CCD imager has been used to measure the properties of short period gravity waves present over the Hawaiian Islands during the ALOHA‐93 campaign. Observations of emissions from four different altitudes provided a capability to describe the vertical as well as the horizontal structure of the wave field. On several occasions during this campaign an unusual morphology wave pattern was detected that consisted of a group of small‐scale waves oriented in the same direction. These were most noticeable in the OI (557.7 nm) emission, altitude ∼96 km, and were usually observed in association with a larger scale gravity wave. …


Maximum Penetration Of Atmospheric Gravity Waves Observed During Aloha-93, G. R. Swenson, C. S. Gardner, Michael J. Taylor Oct 1995

Maximum Penetration Of Atmospheric Gravity Waves Observed During Aloha-93, G. R. Swenson, C. S. Gardner, Michael J. Taylor

All Physics Faculty Publications

Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGWs) are subject to altitude propagation limits which are governed by the diffusion processes. Diffusion times and scales which exceed the wave period and wavelength define the limiting domain for AGWs. An expression is presented which defines the upper altitude limit to which AGWs can propagate given vertical diffusion constraints of the atmosphere. Airglow, lidar, and radar measurements are combined to characterize the intrinsic AGW parameters in the 80–105 km altitude region. A subset of AGWs (17) observed by airglow imagers during the ALOHA‐93 were made when simultaneous wind measurements were available and intrinsic wave parameters were …


A Two-Dimensional Spectral Analysis Of Short Period Gravity Waves Imaged In The Oi (557.7 Nm) And Near Infrared Oh Nightglow Emissions Over Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Michael J. Taylor, F. J. Garcia Sep 1995

A Two-Dimensional Spectral Analysis Of Short Period Gravity Waves Imaged In The Oi (557.7 Nm) And Near Infrared Oh Nightglow Emissions Over Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Michael J. Taylor, F. J. Garcia

All Physics Faculty Publications

In January 1993 an extensive set of radar and optical data was gathered from various key sites around the world during a coordinated “10 Day Run” designed to investigate the coupled dynamic behavior of the upper atmosphere on a large, medium and small scale. As part of this campaign an all‐sky CCD imaging system was operated at Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico, to help quantify the response of the low latitude mesosphere‐thermosphere system to short period (<1 hour) gravity waves. Measurements of the OI(557.7 nm) and near infrared OH nightglow emissions were made in conjunction with photometric and ISR radar soundings and revealed an abundance of small‐scale structure in the 80–100 km range. In this letter we apply two‐dimensional spectral analysis techniques to aid in the interpretation of a complex set of image data that consisted of two intersecting quasi‐monochromatic gravity wave patterns progressing on approximately orthogonal headings. An investigation of the spectral content and temporal evolution of these wave motions at each emission altitude is presented.