Observations of gravity waves in the upper and lower stratosphere by lidar and ozonesondes

N. J. Mitchell, A. J. McDonald, S. J. Reid, J. D. Price

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Lidar observations of Rayleigh backscatter and temperature profiles measured by ozonesondes have been used to investigate gravity waves in the upper and lower stratosphere, respectively, over Aberystwyth (52.4°N, 4.1°W). Both data sets have been used to investigate the vertical wavenumber spectrum of the wave field at high wavenumbers. Similar analytic techniques applied to each data set enable direct comparison of the spectra. The possibility of laminar structures generated by differential advection contaminating gravity-wave fields deduced from temperature and/or density measurement is discussed and the behaviour of the wave-field mean potential energy reveals a seasonal cycle throughout the stratosphere with a late winter maximum and a summer minimum.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)309-314
Number of pages6
JournalAnnales Geophysicae
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Mar 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Geology
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Space and Planetary Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Observations of gravity waves in the upper and lower stratosphere by lidar and ozonesondes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this