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A 2‐d dynamical model of mesospheric temperature inversions in winter
Author(s) -
Hauchecorne Alain,
Maillard Alexandre
Publication year - 1990
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/gl017i012p02197
Subject(s) - mesosphere , adiabatic process , atmospheric sciences , gravity wave , rayleigh scattering , lidar , gravitational wave , physics , geology , stratosphere , thermodynamics , astrophysics , remote sensing , optics
A 2‐D stratospheric and mesospheric dynamical model including drag and diffusion due to gravity wave breaking is used to simulate winter mesospheric temperature inversions similar to those observed by Rayleigh lidar. It is shown that adiabatic heating associated to descending velocities in the mesosphere is the main mechanism involved in the formation of such inversions. Sensitivity tests are performed with the model and confirm this assumption. It is also explained why other previous similar studies with 2‐D models did not show mesospheric inversion layers.