Gravity Wave Activity in the Arctic Stratosphere and Mesosphere in Winter 2018-2019
Abstract
We investigate the interaction of gravity waves and the mean flow associated with a Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event in the Arctic winter of 2018-2019. We base the investigation on new observations of gravity wave activity in the upper stratosphere-lower mesosphere (USLM, 40-50 km) and upper mesosphere-lower thermosphere (UMLT, 80-100 km) and mean winds and tides in the UMLT. These observations were made with a Rayleigh density temperature lidar, sodium resonance wind-temperature lidar. and a meteor wind radar (MWR) collocated at Poker Flat Research Range, Chatanika, Alaska (65°N, 147°W). Multi-year Rayleigh lidar observations have shown strong modulation of gravity wave activity in the USLM associated with SSWs. We extend these previous studies by examining the behavior of gravity wave activity in both the USLM (measured by Rayleigh lidar) and UMLT (measured by sodium lidar) and the mean winds, tides, and planetary waves (measured by the radar). We investigate the vertical coupling between these two regions before, during, and after the SSW. We consider the role of primary and secondary gravity waves in this coupling.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMSA23B3128C
- Keywords:
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- 3334 Middle atmosphere dynamics;
- ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES;
- 3337 Global climate models;
- ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES;
- 3360 Remote sensing;
- ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES;
- 3384 Acoustic-gravity waves;
- ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES