Seasonal variation of momentum flux in the mesosphere observed with the MU radar
Abstract
We have regularly monitored mesospheric winds at 60-85km for three years with the MU radar (35°N, 136°E), and have found that the variance of wind velocity fluctuations for periods from 5 min to 2 hr shows a semi-annual variation with a significant peak in summer centered in July and irregular enhancements in winter. The zonal momentum flux induced by gravity waves shows eastward and westward maxima in July-August and December-February, respectively. Typical eastward accelerations at the 70km altitude range from 7 to 13 m/s/day and from -8 to -11 m/s/day in summer and winter, respectively, which agree fairly well with theoretical predictions.
- Publication:
-
Geophysical Research Letters
- Pub Date:
- May 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1029/GL017i006p00725
- Bibcode:
- 1990GeoRL..17..725T
- Keywords:
-
- Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Middle atmosphere dynamics;
- Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Waves and tides