Gravity wave exclusion circles in background flows modulated by the semidiurnal tide

In this short paper the exclusion circles and vertical phase locities for gravity waves launched from the ground into a time-varying wind are studied using a ray-tracing technique. It is shown that waves with initial observed phase speeds that should place them within the local temporally varying exclusion circle, are often Doppler shifted outside of the circle. This, and the finite lifetime of some critical levels, allow waves to survive the critical layer and reach higher altitudes. Also, for slower phase-speed waves, the temporally varying wind can shift the observed frequency to negative values, so that the observed phase motions will be opposite (i.e. horizontally reversed and vertically upward), even though the energy still propagates upward. This effect can also cause the phase velocity to move inside the local exclusion circle. Due to the directional filtering of wave sources by the stratospheric wind, the percentage of such reverse-propagating waves will change systematically with local time and height in our simplified but realistic model. These results are related to ground-based systems, optical and radar, which sample the wind field and gravity waves in the middle atmosphere.     

Structure and dynamics of the stratosphere and mesosphere revealed by VHF radar investigations

Powerful VHF radars are capable of almost continuously monitoring the threedimensional velocity vector and the distribution of turbulence in the middle atmosphere, i.e. the stratosphere and mesosphere. Methods of radar investigations of the middle atmosphere are outlined and the basic parameters, mean and fluctuating velocities as well as reflectivity and persistency of atmospheric structures, are defined. Results of radar investigations are described which show that the tropopause level as well as a criterion on the stability of the lower stratosphere can be deduced. Besides mean wind velocities, VHF radars can measure instantaneous velocities due to acoustic gravity waves. The interaction of gravity waves with the background wind is discussed, and it is shown that cumulus convection is an effective source of gravity waves in the lower stratosphere. The vertical microstructure of the stratosphere, manifesting itself in thin stratified sheets in which temperature steps occur, is investigated by applying knowledge from investigations of the oceanic thermocline. Possible origins, like shear generation and lateral convection of the microstructure of the stratosphere, are discussed. Observations of gravity waves in the mesosphere are reviewed and their connection with turbulence structures is pointed out. Finally, some open questions which could be answered by further VHF radar investigations are summarized.     

非对称型强飓风中的准平衡流特征分析Ⅱ:波动结构

利用非对称波分量分解和小波分析的方法,对准平衡动力模型下非对称强飓风内中尺度波动的空间结构和时间序列特征进行分析.结果表明,平衡流场中1波扰动占主要地位且具有涡旋Rossby波的典型结构特征,准平衡流各波数下扰动的空间分布反映了中尺度波动的混合性质;模式大气和准平衡垂直运动的全局功率谱中,超过信度检验的强波动信号中不仅包含分别表征重力波和涡旋Rossby波的高频和低频波动信号,还存在表征具有物理性质不可分特性的混合涡旋Rossby-重力波的中频波动.混合波的出现建立了不同频段波动之间的能量交换通道,其信号的变化对飓风系统的强弱变化具有一定的指示作用.非平衡垂直运动的波动强信号则主要集中在高频和低频区域,反映了在飓风强度变化情况下,与高频重力波有关的快波调整过程所引起的垂直扰动的振荡和传播.强垂直风切变对飓风内中尺度波动的切向和径向传播具有重要影响,当环境垂直风切变很强时,准平衡1波扰动在径向和切向方向上均呈"驻波"形态,随着环境垂直风切变的减弱,1波扰动以混合波波速逆基本气流传播.     

Inertia gravity wave activity in the troposphere and lower stratosphere observed by Wuhan MST radar

The troposphere and lower stratosphere (TLS) is a region with active atmospheric fluctuations. The Wuhan Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere (MST) radar is the first MST radar to have become operational in Mainland China. It is dedicated to real-time atmospheric observations. In this paper, two case studies about inertia gravity waves (IGWs) derived from three-dimensional wind field data collected with the Wuhan MST radar are presented. The intrinsic frequencies, vertical wavelengths, horizontal wavelengths, vertical wavenumber spectra, and energy density are calculated and analyzed. In this paper, we also report on multiple waves existing in the lower stratosphere observed by the Wuhan MST radar. Lomb-Scargle spectral analysis and the hodograph method were used to derive the vertical wavenumber and propagation direction. Meanwhile, an identical IGW is observed by Wuhan MST radar both in troposphere and lower stratosphere regions. Combining the observations, the source of the latter IGW detected in the TLS would be the jet streams located in the tropopause region, which also produced wind shear above and below the tropopause.     

Long-period unstable gravity-waves and associated VHF radar echoes

VHF atmospheric radar is used to measure the wind velocity and radar echo power related to long-period wind perturbations, including gravity waves, which are observed commonly in the lower stratosphere and tropopause region, and sometimes in the troposphere. These wind structures have been identified previously as either inertia-gravity waves, often associated with jet streams, or mountain waves. At heights of peak wind shear, imbalances are found between the echo powers of a symmetric pair of radar beams, which are expected to be equal. The largest of these power differences are found for conditions of simultaneous high wind shear and high aspect sensitivity. It is suggested that the effect might arise from tilted specular reflectors or anisotropic turbulent scatterers, a result of, for example, Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities generated by the strong wind shears. This radar power-difference effect could offer information about the onset of saturation in long-period waves, and the formation of thin layers of turbulence.     

Seasonal variation of space–time parameters of internal gravity waves at Kharkiv (49°30′N, 36°51′E)

Internal gravity waves (IGWs) over Kharkiv (49°30′N, 36°51′E) have been studied by using an automatic goniometer of a meteor radar (AG MR), with its antenna directed to the East. The AG MR carries out Doppler measurements of the radial drift velocity and the position of the reflecting area of meteor trails. In order to obtain information about IGW parameters, an algorithm was used that processes the AG MR wind data by dividing the measured volume into several sub-volumes, and by carrying out wavelet analysis of wind variations in these areas. Results of 1 year (1987) of AG MR data show a good qualitative correspondence with literature results. There is an increase of IGW activity during the change of the zonal background wind in spring and autumn. It was found that the mean IGW horizontal phase velocity and predominating horizontal propagation direction change with season. However, the mean period (1.5 h), the dominant amplitude (30 m/s) and the vertical phase velocity do not strongly vary in the course of the year. The mean vertical and horizontal wavelengths were found to be 40 and 250 km, respectively.     

Variations in the characteristics of acoustic gravity waves according to simulation data

The characteristics of different-scale acoustic gravity waves (wavelengths of 100–1200 km, periods of 10–50 min) under different geophysical conditions have been studied using a numerical model for calculating the vertical structure of these waves in a nonisothermal atmosphere in the presence of an altitudedependent background wind and in a situation when molecular dissipation is taken into account. It has been established that all considered acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) effectively reach altitudes of the thermosphere. The character of the amplitude vertical profile depends on the AGW scales. The seasonal and latitudinal differences in the AGW vertical structure depend on the background wind and temperature. A strong thermospheric wind causes the rapid damping of medium-scale AGWs propagating along the wind. Waves with long periods to a lesser degree depend on dissipation in the thermosphere and can penetrate to high altitudes. A change in the geomagnetic activity level affects the background wind vertical distribution at high latitudes, as a result of which the AGW vertical structure varies.     

台风“梅花”诱发平流层重力波的数值模拟与AIRS观测

为了分析台风这类强对流诱发平流层重力波的过程,本文利用中尺度数值模式WRF-ARW(V3.5)和卫星高光谱红外大气探测器AIRS数据对2011年第9号强热带气旋"梅花"的重力波特征进行了分析.首先,针对模式输出的垂直速度场资料的分析表明,台风在对流层各个方向上几乎都具有诱发重力波的能量,而在平流层内则呈现出只集中于台风中心以东的半圆弧状波动,且重力波到达平流层后其影响的水平范围可达1000km.此外,平流层波动与对流层雨带在形态、位置以及尺度上均具有一定的相似性.其次,对风场的分析结果表明,不同高度上波动形态的差异主要是由于重力波垂直上传的过程中受到了平流层向西传的背景风场以及风切变的调制作用,揭示了重力波逆着背景流垂直上传的特征.随后,基于FFT波谱分析的结果表明,"梅花"诱发的平流层重力波水平波长中心值达到了1000km,周期在15~25h,垂直波长主要在8~12km.最后,利用AIRS观测资料分析了平流层30~40km高度上的大气波动,得到了与数值模拟结果相一致的半圆弧状波动.对比结果也验证了WRF对台风诱发平流层重力波的波动形态、传播方向、不同时刻扰动强度的变化以及影响范围的模拟效果.此外,也揭示了多资料的结合对比有助于更加全面地了解台风诱发平流层重力波的波动特征.     

中层大气重力波的全球分布特征

从2002年1月到2009年12月的SABER温度剖面数据提取了可以反映重力波活动的垂直尺度2～10 km的中尺度温度扰动,分析了全球中层大气重力波的分布.重力波扰动在夏季和冬季明显强于春季和秋季,而冬季与夏季相比,在70 km以下的高度夏季弱于冬季,在70 km以上夏季比冬季要强.从全球重力波分布来看,较大值分布在冬...     

中层重力波运动学特性的VHF雷达观测

利用ＳＯＵＳＹＶＨＦ雷达１９８７年６月在挪威的观测数据，分析了一个典型的内重力波事件的运动学特征．结果表明，该重力波的等相面明显下传，垂直波长随高度的增加而增大，背景风随高度增加而减弱，可以推断波顺风传播，与内重力波色散方程的预言是一致的；利用重力波色散方程导出的重力波运动学参量量值与其他探测手段得到的结果一致．     

风垂直切变对中尺度地形对流降水影响的研究

针对长江中下游中尺度地形特点以及暴雨过程发生发展期间风垂直切变的主要观测特征,设计了一系列中尺度地形的三维理想数值试验,分析了干大气地形流和重力波特征,探讨了条件不稳定湿大气地形对流降水的模态分布,在此基础上研究了圆形、直线风垂直切变和切变厚度对中尺度地形对流降水强度和模态分布的影响.结果发现:在 F_r≈1的干大气条件下,气流遇到地形后分支、绕流和爬升现象同时存在,地形激发的重力波在水平和垂直方向上传播,其在迎风坡、背风坡、地形上游和下游的振幅不同,并组织出不同强度的垂直上升运动.在F_r > 1的条件不稳定湿大气下,地形对流降水主要存在三种模态,即迎风坡和背风坡准静止对流降水以及地形下游移动性对流降水,地形对流降水的形成与重力波在低层组织的上升运动密切相关.风垂直切变对地形对流降水的强度和模态分布有重要作用,其中圆形风垂直切变(风随高度旋转)不仅影响地形下游对流降水系统的移动方向,而且影响迎风坡和背风坡山脚处对流降水中心的分布和强度;直线风垂直切变(风随高度无旋转)主要影响地形对流降水的移动速度和强度.风随高度自下而上顺(逆)时针旋转,地形对流系统向下游传播时向右(左)偏移.风垂直切变主要通过影响地形重力波的结构和传播以及对流系统的形成、移动方向和速度,来影响地形对流降水的模态分布,其中对流层中低层的风垂直切变对地形对流降水强度和模态分布有重要影响.     

A comparison of gravity wave phase velocities calculated from the impedance equation and pressure data

Abstract

Marked oscillations in wind speed, wind direction and pressure with periods of between 5 and 15 minutes were recorded on a number of occasions and it is assumed that they were produced by atmospheric gravity waves. Gossard and Munk (1954) have shown that the phase velocity of a gravity wave can be calculated using wind and pressure fluctuation data from a single station by means of the “impedance equation”. It is also possible to measure the phase velocity of a gravity wave using an array of microbarovariographs. In this investigation, the phase velocity of gravity waves calculated using these two different methods are compared and the feasibility of deriving wave characteristics from single point measurements is discussed. The results show that, while in a few isolated cases the two velocities agree reasonably well, the application of the impedance equation to data from a single station is limited due to the superposition of local wind systems upon the wave-induced perturbations.     

Decameter mid-latitude sporadic-E irregularities in relation with gravity waves

HF radar observations of mid-latitude sporadic-E irregularities carried out with the Valensole radar in South France are compared with simultaneous ionosonde measurements underneath the irregularity zones. In a previous study of Valensole radar data, it has been shown that HF backscatter from the night-time mid-latitude E region is usually associated with largescale wave-like modulations. To obtain more information on the geophysical conditions prevailing during backscatter events, a new experiment was performed which also included a vertical ionosonde beneath the scattering region. The data to be presented here are from two periods when radar scattering appeared simultaneously with large variations in the virtual height and the Doppler velocity of F-layer reflected echoes measured with the vertical ionosonde, indicating very clearly the passage of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs). The effect of the atmospheric waves on the sporadic-E layer is not always as marked as it is in the F region. In the first event, the passage of the AGWs is accompanied by an upward followed by a downward movement of the Es-layer. The apparent descending movement of the Es-layer from 135 to 110km in less than 10 min corresponded to a positive (downward) Doppler velocity of 35 m/s measured by the vertical ionosonde, and was accompanied by a range variation in the radar scattering region with a negative rate of about 90–110 m/s. In the second event, the Es-layer is not as strongly disturbed as in the previous one, but, nevertheless, the range variations of the scattering region can still be associated with height fluctuations of the Es-layer.     

Generalized polarization relationships for acoustic gravity waves in the nonisothermal atmosphere with the wind

The nonlinear equation of the first order of the Riccati type has been obtained for the wave impedance of acoustic gravity waves in the nonisothermal atmosphere. The vertically nonuniform horizontal wind and the effect of viscosity on the horizontal components of the velocity field have been taken into account in the calculations. The boundary-value problem for the Riccati equation is defined by the boundary emission condition at high altitudes. Upon finding the wave impedance along with the generalized polarization relationship, all remaining disturbances of the atmospheric parameters related to acoustic gravity waves are found with the help of a simple integration. The results of using a developed formalism are illustrated by the numerical computation of acoustic gravity wave fields in the atmosphere with real vertical profiles of temperature and horizontal field velocity.     

廊坊地区中间层顶钠原子垂直动力学输送特征观测分析

利用中科院国家空间科学中心廊坊观测站（40.0° N,116.3° E）钠荧光多普勒激光雷达观测数据对钠原子的重力波输送和湍流输送进行分析,利用流星雷达观测数据对钠原子的环流输送进行分析,结果显示重力波动力学输送、重力波化学输送、湍流混合输送及环流输送对钠原子输送贡献的量级相当.其中重力波动力学输送在85~100 km整体为负向,在90~95 km占主要地位的平均输送速度为-3.1 cm·s^-1;重力波化学输送在85~94 km为正向,94~100 km基本为负向,在85~90 km占主要地位的平均输送速度为3.3 cm·s^-1;湍流混合输送在85~95 km为负向,95~100 km为正向,在85~90 km占主要地位的平均输送速度为-4.9 cm·s^-1;85~100 km环流输送整体为正向,平均输送速度为1 cm·s^-1.88~95 km四种动力学输送产生的平均合速度为-1 cm·s^-1,负向的垂直输送特征对钠原子"源""汇"平衡十分重要.本文结果可为不同大气圈层之间重力波产生的能量物质交换机制研究和圈层之间的耦合过程研究提供观测事实参考,为大气化学成分的垂直输送机制建模提供参数化依据.     

利用激光雷达测量重力波三维结构

激光雷达观测得到的密度、温度等数据被广泛应用于大气重力波研究.瑞利激光雷达可以获取激光路径上的大气密度、温度数据.对于大气中的三维波动而言,单条路径上的观测参量能提取得到的波动信息有限.本文首先以单色重力波为例,分析了利用激光雷达直接观测三维波动结构的可行性.激光雷达垂直观测即可得到重力波的垂直波长,当激光雷达以一定的天顶角斜向测量时,所得到的波长包含了重力波的垂直波长以及水平波长信息.因此,利用激光雷达同时以三个方向(垂直、向南(天顶角30°)以及向西(天顶角30°))测量,可以提取得到重力波的垂直波长和水平波长.本文利用中国科学院国家空间科学中心研制的车载532nm瑞利激光雷达的经向系统和纬向系统同时以不同的指向角观测大气重力波,对利用激光雷达获取三维波动结构的方法进行了分析研究.本文给出了北京地区激光雷达观测重力波的诸多案例,分析了30~60km高度范围内北京地区大气重力波的垂直及水平波长信息.并以2017年11月7日观测的准单色重力波为例,结合再分析资料的风场数据,分析了该重力波的水平波长,垂直波长及传播方向等信息.     

基于OH全天空气辉成像仪观测的中国低纬地区的重力波传播统计特征

利用位于海南富克(19.5°N,109.1°E)和广西桂平(23.4°N,110.1°E)两个台站两年多的OH全天空气辉成像仪观测数据,对中国低纬地区的重力波传播统计特征进行了研究.从富克和桂平的气辉成像观测中, 分别提取了65和86个重力波事件.研究结果表明,观测水平波长,观测周期和水平相速度分别集中分布在10~35 km, 4~14 min和20~90 m·s^-1范围.重力波传播方向,在夏季表现出很强的东北方向传播.然而,在冬季主要沿东南和西南方向传播. 同时,结合流星雷达风场观测和TIMED/SABER卫星的温度数据,也发现在中层-低热层中传播的大多数重力波表现为耗散传播.且低层-中层大气中背景风场的滤波作用和多普勒频移可能对纬向方向传播的重力波产生的各向异性起到重要的调制作用.然而,经向方向传播的重力波产生的各向异性可能同时被低层大气中波源的非均匀分布以及潮汐变化所影响.     

Validation of the CUTLASS HF radar gravity wave observing capability using EISCAT CP-1 data

Quasi-periodic fluctuations in the returned ground-scatter power from the SuperDARN HF radars have been linked to the passage of medium-scale gravity waves. We have applied a technique that extracts the first radar range returns from the F-region to study the spatial extent and characteristics of these waves in the CUTLASS field-of-view. Some ray tracing was carried out to test the applicability of this method. The EISCAT radar facility at Tromsø is well within the CUTLASS field-of-view for these waves and provides a unique opportunity to assess independently the ability of the HF radars to derive gravity wave information. Results from 1st March, 1995, where the EISCAT UHF radar was operating in its CP-1 mode, demonstrate that the radars were in good agreement, especially if one selects the electron density variations measured by EISCAT at around 235 km. CUTLASS and EISCAT gravity wave observations complement each other; the former extends the spatial field of view considerably, whilst the latter provides detailed vertical information about a range of ionospheric parameters.     

Night-to-night changes in the characteristics of gravity waves at stratospheric and lower-mesospheric heights

Observations made with the co-located Rayleigh lidar and MST radar systems at Aberystwyth (52.4°N, 4.1°W) in Wales and radiosondes from Valentia (51.9°N, 10.2°W) in Eire are used to investigate the changes in the vertical propagation of gravity waves during periods of 4 days in June 1995 and February 1993. In each month, the lidar observations show that the wave activity in the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere changes between two pairs of days. The radar and radiosonde measurements indicate that mountain waves make no contribution to the changes in intensity. Instead, the changes seem to arise largely from the presence or absence of long-period waves with vertical wavelengths near 8 and 10 km in June and February, respectively. The influence of such waves on the vertical wavenumber spectra is examined and related to the evidence for convective instabilities provided by the temperature profiles.     

利用瑞利激光雷达观测北京地区上平流层地形重力波活动

本文利用中国科学院空间科学与应用研究中心的瑞利激光雷达首次观测到了平流层地形重力波活动的现象,并结合美国国家环境预报中心(NCEP)的全球预报系统(GFS)的风场数据分析了该地形重力波的基本参数.与惯性重力波相比较,地形重力波的密度扰动没有下传的相位,在同一高度上,其扰动相位保持不变.北京空间科学与应用研究中心瑞利激光雷达自2012年开始观测实验以来,已经观测到多起地形重力波活动事件.本文以2013年11月11日的观测数据为例,研究北京上空的地形重力波活动,并结合GFS风场数据分析了北京上平流层地形重力波的波长、传播方向、传播速度等参量.通过分析得到在2013年11月11日北京上空存在一列传播方向为北偏西52.4°,水平波长为5.5km,平均垂直波长约为6.0km的地形重力波.