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Gravity waves and ionospheric irregularities over tropical convection zones observed by GPS/MET Radio Occultation
Author(s) -
Hocke Klemens,
Tsuda Toshitaka
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 - 10.1029/2001gl013076
Subject(s) - stratosphere , thermosphere , radio occultation , troposphere , atmospheric sciences , mesosphere , ionosphere , gravity wave , geology , convection , latitude , water vapor , atmosphere (unit) , climatology , geophysics , gravitational wave , meteorology , physics , geodesy , astrophysics
GPS/MET observations of the tropical atmosphere of the southern hemisphere (5°S to 25°S) during February 1997 are analysed, when a high amount of convective tropospheric water vapor is at these latitudes. Enhanced gravity wave activity of the lower stratosphere at h=22–28 km is associated to areas of increased tropospheric water vapor pressure at h=4–6 km, regarded as a measure of tropical convection. Sporadic E and other ionospheric irregularities (vertical scales less than 7 km) of the mesosphere/lower thermosphere are observed to be highly correlated to gravity wave activity in the lower stratosphere and to tropical convection zones. We find 4 areas of enhanced ionospheric irregularities and stratospheric wave activity over Pacific (around 140°W), Brazil (50°W), Africa (40°E), and Indonesia/Australia (110°E).