Characteristics of wave induced oscillations in mesospheric O 2 emission intensity and temperatures

Gravity wave and tidal signatures in mesospheric emissions can be characterized using a quantity η which relates the wave intensity perturbations to the corresponding induced temperature oscillation. The quasi‐monochromatic wave induced oscillations in the O 2 (0–1) atmospheric emission observed from Maui, Hawaii (20.8 N, 156.2 W) have been investigated for the periods ranging from 1–12 hours. Our results clearly show that ∣η∣ increases from 0.5 to 10 with the increasing wave periods while the phase Ø exhibits a decreasing trend (+75 to −100°). When compared with model, observed trends agree well while significant differences in the absolute values are noted, possibly due to complex chemical and dynamical processes at mesospheric altitudes.