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A possible mechanism for in situ forcing of planetary waves in the summer extratropical mesosphere
Author(s) -
Osprey Scott M.,
Lawrence Bryan N.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl011984
Subject(s) - stratosphere , tropopause , gravity wave , extratropical cyclone , mesosphere , infragravity wave , geophysics , atmospheric sciences , forcing (mathematics) , atmospheric wave , flux (metallurgy) , gravitational wave , physics , momentum (technical analysis) , geology , climatology , wave propagation , astrophysics , mechanical wave , longitudinal wave , materials science , finance , quantum mechanics , economics , metallurgy
An examination of zonal asymmetries in meridional momentum flux reaching the mesosphere is made using the Hines Doppler spread parameterization of gravity waves. As expected a general correspondence is seen between wave one wind in the stratosphere and wave one signals in gravity wave momentum flux leaving the stratosphere. However, a significant difference is the presence of wave one features in the gravity‐wave momentum flux at 56 km and ∼70°N during mid‐summer which contrast with minimal signals in stratospheric wave one wind. The prominence of this feature is accounted for by a significant wave one Brunt‐Väisälä feature at the tropopause amplifying a wave one signal in momentum flux which can then propagate to great heights. Such a feature could result in mesospheric planetary waves which are coupled to the tropopause forcing without intervening planetary wave signals in the stratosphere.