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A case study of the Mountain Lee Wave Event of January 6, 1992
Author(s) -
Chan K. R.,
Pfister L.,
Bui T. P.,
Bowen S. W.,
DeanDay J.,
Gary B. L.,
Fahey D. W.,
Kelly K. K.,
Webster C. R.,
May R. D.
Publication year - 1993
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 - 10.1029/93gl01964
Subject(s) - geology , wavelength , polar , atmospheric sciences , vertical displacement , gravity wave , meteorology , gravitational wave , geodesy , climatology , physics , geomorphology , optics , astronomy , astrophysics
A mountain wave event, observed at the southern tip of Greenland on January 6, 1992, was corroborated by three experiments: the Meteorological Measurement System (MMS), the Microwave Temperature Profiler (MTP), and the Reactive Nitrogen Instrument (NO/NO y ). Gravity wave signatures with classical phase relationship between wind and temperature were observed on both the outbound and inbound legs at different altitudes. The waves showed both vertically propagating and evanescent properties. Characteristics of the dominant wave mode are: wavelength ≈ 35 km; vertical displacement ≈ 0.8 km, and peak‐to‐peak vertical wind ≈ 6 ms −1 . With the prevailing wind at ≈ 37 ms −1 , the stratospheric temperature was reduced by 6K to 195.5K within 8 minutes. The implication and potential impact of mountain lee waves on the formation of polar stratospheric clouds (PSC's) are discussed.