The structure of the equatorial mesosphere at Thumba

The structure of the equatorial mesosphere is being investigated at Thumba by rocket borne ultraviolet absorption photometry as well as by the meteorological M-100 rocket launching programme. Whereas the meteorological M-100 rocket luanching programme has been regular, the UV absorption studies have been few in number and sporadic in nature. In this paper an attempt is made to consolidate the results so far obtained from both these investigations.     

Solar response in the temperature over the equatorial middle atmosphere

One of the longest temperature records available for the equatorial region is provided by Rocketsonde from Thumba (8°N, 77°E), India during the period 1971–1993. In recent times, these data sets are reanalyzed using the up-to-date regression models, which take care of several corrections and parameters, not accounted for in earlier analyses and hence affecting the conclusions. In this paper, annual mean solar response in this data set along with the seasonal solar coefficient is quantitatively estimated now with improved confidence. A negative solar response in the stratosphere (1–2 K/100 solar flux unit, sfu) and a positive response for the mesosphere (0.5–3 K/100 sfu) are found. The negative stratospheric solar response is in contrast to the solar coefficient reported for low latitudes by earlier workers for other stations.     

Application of tomographic inversion in studying airglow in the mesopause region

It is pointed out that observations of periodic nightglow structures give excellent information on atmospheric gravity waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The periods, the horizontal wavelengths and the phase speeds of the waves can be determined from airglow images and, using several cameras, the approximate altitude of the luminous layer can also be determined by triangulation. In this paper the possibility of applying tomographic methods for reconstructing the airglow structures is investigated using numerical simulations. A ground-based chain of cameras is assumed, two-dimensional airglow models in the vertical plane above the chain are constructed, and simulated data are calculated by integrating the models along a great number of rays with different elevation angles for each camera. After addition of random noise, these data are then inverted to obtain reconstructions of the models. A tomographic analysis package originally designed for satellite radiotomography is used in the inversion. The package is based on a formulation of stochastic inversion which allows the input of a priori information to the solver in terms of regularization variances. The reconstruction is carried out in two stages. In the first inversion, constant regularization variances are used within a wide altitude range. The results are used in determining the approximate altitude range of the airglow structures. Then, in the second inversion, constant non-zero regularization variances are used inside this region and zero variances outside it. With this method reliable reconstructions of the models are obtained. The number of cameras as well as their separations are varied in order to find out the limitations of the method.     

The middle atmosphere

The last 50 years have seen enormous advances in our knowledge and understanding of the stratosphere and mesosphere, which together comprise the middle atmosphere. Beginning from a phase of basic discovery, we have now reached the stage where most observed phenomena can be modelled from first principles with a reasonable degree of fidelity, and where there is an overall theoretical framework which can be tested against measurements and models. This review surveys a number of major surprises in middle atmosphere science over the past 50 years. A phenomenological and historical approach is adopted in each case, leading up to the current literature. Along the way, a common thread emerges: the central role of waves, of various types, in redistributing angular momentum within the atmosphere, and the global nature of the atmospheric response to such redistribution.     

Constrains on gravity wave induced diffusion in the middle atmosphere

A review of the important constraints on gravity wave induced diffusion of chemical tracers, heat, and momentum is given. Ground-based microwave spectroscopy measurements of H₂O and CO and rocket-based mass spectrometer measurements of Ar constrain the eddy diffusion coefficient for constituent transport (K _zz ) to be (1–3)×10⁵ cm²s^–1 in the upper mesosphere. Atomic oxygen data also limitsK _zz to a comparable value at the mesopause. From the energy balance of the upper mesosphere the eddy diffusion coefficient for heat transport (D _H ) is, at most 6×10⁵ cm²s^–1 at the mesopause and decreasing substantially with decreasing altitude. The available evidence for mean wind deceleration and the corresponding eddy diffusion coefficient for momentum stresses (D _M ) suggests that it is at least 1×10⁶ cm²s^–1, in the upper mesosphere. Consequently the eddy Prandtl number for macroscopic scale lengths is >3.     

重力波包在中层大气温度波导中传播的数值模拟

给出了重力波在中层大气温度波导中的反对称形式导制传播的线性理论模型,并采用二维非线性的数值模型对重力波波包在中层大气温度波导中的传播和演变过程进行了模拟研究.模拟的结果表明,下层大气激发的重力波能量进入波导区域后被俘获形成导制传播.重力波在波导内不停地来回反射,垂直方向的自由传播受到限制,能量在波导内沿着水平方向传输,模拟得到的波参数与理论值相近.重力波包在温度波导中传播时伴随着能量泄漏,且能量泄漏的速率随时间变缓,最终总有部分能量被限制在波导区域.重力波在水平方向上传播几百公里后,依然维持着良好的波结构,同时数值模拟也给出了重力波在波导区域内能量密度的时空分布.     

A review of gravity wave saturation processes,effects, and variability in the middle atmosphere

This paper provides a review of our current understanding of the processes responsible for gravity wave saturation as well as the principal effects and variability of saturation in the lower and middle atmosphere. We discuss the theoretical and observational evidence for linear and nonlinear saturation processes and examine the consequences of saturation for wave amplitude limits, momentum and energy fluxes, the diffusion of heat and constituents, and the establishment of a near-universal vertical wavenumber spectrum. Recent studies of gravity wave variability are reviewed and are seen to provide insights into the significant causes of wave variability throughout the atmosphere.     

重力波在中层大气温度波导中的传播模式研究

本文给出了重力波在中层大气温度波导中的导制传播模型,并在此模型的基础上详细讨论了重力波部分导制传播下的对称模式与非对称模式,导出了不同模式下相应的特征函数和色散方程,进一步用离散的方法对两类色散方程进行了求解;同时还利用二维全隐欧拉格式（FICE）对重力波在温度波导中的传播进行了模拟,模拟的结果也成功地展现了对称与非对称两种传播模式.研究表明,下边界的扰动能量在向上传播进入波导区域后被俘获,形成导制传播.不同周期的初始扰动,在波导内均会形成对称与非对称形式两种模式的导制传播,由于两者的行进速度不一致,最终会引起两种不同模式的分离.数值模拟中重力波的水平行进速度与线性模型预测值非常接近.波导中不同模式下重力波的水平波长与初始扰动的水平波长非常一致,然而波导区域内重力波的频率与初始扰动的频率无关,频率不同的初始扰动会激发出相同频率的重力波对称与非对称导制传播模式.这表明在确定的温度波导中,水平波数才是决定重力波传播特性的决定因素.进一步的分析显示,初始扰动的水平波数-频率分布越接近完全导制传播的色散关系时,温度波导中更易于生成以该种模式部分导制传播的重力波.     

Fluid flow and sediment entrainment in the Garonne River bore and tidal bore collision

A detailed field study was carried out on a tidal bore to document the turbulent processes and sediment entrainment which occurred. The measured bore, within the Arcins Channel of the Garonne River (France), was undular in nature and was followed by well‐defined secondary wave motion. Due to the local river geometry a collision between the Arcins channel tidal bore and the bore which formed within the main Garonne River channel was observed about 800 m upstream of the sampling site. This bore collision generated a transient standing wave with a black water mixing zone. Following this collision the bore from the main Garonne River channel propagated ‘backward’ to the downstream end of the Arcins channel. Velocity measurements with a fine temporal resolution were complemented by measurements of the sediment concentration and river level. The instantaneous velocity data indicated large and rapid fluctuations of all velocity components during the tidal bore. Large Reynolds shear stresses were observed during and after the tidal bore passage, including during the 'backward' bore propagation. Large suspended sediment concentration estimates were recorded and the suspended sediment flux data showed some substantial sediment motion, consistent with the murky appearance of the flood tide waters. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Correlations of mesospheric variability and their relation to the large-scale circulation during polar winter

WINDII data from the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite show an integrated OH emission rate systematically increasing with decreasing airglow peak altitude. A Spectral Airglow Temperature Imager (SATI) at 74°N shows strong positive correlations between the integrated emission rate and the rotational OH temperature. Taken together, the two correlations are consistent with vertical motions of the mesopause region, over periods from hours to winter to winter. SABER data are consistent with these correlations. The O₂ atmospheric band shows much weaker correlations. The SATI mesospheric temperatures also correlate with Resolute Bay temperatures for the 22.5 km level, a mesosphere–stratosphere relationship.     

基于中国东港台站的OH气辉成像观测数据对重力波波源的事件分析

利用东港（40°N,124°E）台站于2013年9月15—16日的OH气辉成像观测数据报告了两个重力波事件（1和2）.同时,结合北京十三陵（40.3°N,116.2°E）台站的多普勒流星雷达风场数据和位于39.4°N,130.6°E位置处的SABER/TIMED卫星的温度参数分析发现,观测的两个重力波事件于2013年9月15—16日02:00—03:00 LT时间段,和70~110 km高度是自由传播的.利用反射线追踪方法分析表明,重力波事件1和事件2分别产生于（39.3°N,117.2°E）和（47.1°N,121.3°E）.且事件1的波源位置与对流活动和大气向上向下运动过程中产生的不稳定性吻合较好.然而,通过ECMWF再分析资料和MTSAT卫星观测数据分析表明,事件2可能由对流活动或大气向上运动过程中可能产生的不稳定性导致.利用MERRA自地面到约70 km高度的风场数据分析表明,观测的重力波事件1和事件2的水平相速度分别是83.5 m·s^-1（事件1）和80.1 m·s^-1（事件2）,均大于低层-中层大气风速-10~45 m·s^-1.因此,观测的两个重力波事件是可能从低层大气传播到中层-低热层大气的.

     

Observational evidence of the semiannual oscillation in the tropical middle atmosphere—A review

Observational studies on the semiannual oscillation in the tropical stratosphere and mesosphere are reviewed. Results of many statistics based on rocket and satellite observations reveal that the long-term behavior of the mean zonal wind exhibits two semiannual cycles which have their maximum amplitudes centered at the stratopause level and the mesopause level, each one being associated with the semiannual temperature variations predominating at levels about 10 km lower.Observational evidence obtained from recent studies of the dynamical properties of upper stratospheric waves strongly supports the theoretical consideration that the stratospheric semiannual oscillation is the manifestation of the wave-zonal flow interaction with alternating accelerations of the westerly flow by Kelvin waves and the easterly flow by planetary Rossby waves.Regarding the semiannual variation in the upper mesosphere, however, very little is known about the possible momentum source. Therefore, emphasis is placed on the need for further observations of the structure and behavior of the tropical middle atmosphere.     

Atmospheric gravity wave propagation direction observed by airglow imaging in the South American sector

Airglow all sky imaging observation has been carried out in three different locations in south America, at Cachoeira Paulista (22.7°S, 45.0°W) in 1999, São João do Cariri (7.5°S, 36.5°W) in 2001 and Boa Vista (2.8°N, 60.7°W) in 2002. Comparing the atmospheric gravity wave characteristics retrieved from the image data for the three different sites and including a previous work at Alcântara (2.3°S, 44.5°W) carried out by Taylor et al. [1997. Journal of Geophysical Research 102 (D22) 26,283–26,299], we found that there is a preferential propagation direction, from the Continent to the Atlantic Ocean. The observed wave propagation directions reveal that a major part of the waves have their direction from Continent toward Ocean. The possible source of the wave generation is discussed.     

Global pattern of trends in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere: Recent progress

The global pattern of long-term trends and changes in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere has been presented by Laštovička et al. [2006a. Global change in the upper atmosphere. Science 314 (5803), 1253–1254]. Trends in the mesospheric temperature, electron concentration in the lower ionosphere, electron concentration and height of its maximum in the E-region, electron concentration in the F1-region maximum, thermospheric neutral density and F-region ion temperature qualitatively agree with consequences of the enhanced greenhouse effect and form a consistent pattern of global change in the upper atmosphere. Three groups of parameters were identified as not-fitting this global pattern, the F2-region ionosphere, mesospheric water vapour, and the mesosphere/upper thermosphere dynamics. The paper reports progress in development of the global pattern of trends with emphasis to these three open problems. There are several other factors contributing to long-term trends, namely the stratospheric ozone depletion, mesospheric water vapour concentration changes, long-term changes of geomagnetic activity and of the Earth's magnetic field.     

Characteristics of disturbances in the atmosphere and oceans

The characteristics of the disturbances in the atmosphere and oceans and in other stably stratified and rotating fluids are analyzed according to their phase and group velocities. It is shown that both stable stratification and rotation augment the velocity of the sound waves, and that the internal gravity waves and inertial waves are mutually exclusive when the Brunt-Väisälä frequency is different from the Coriolis parameter. It is also shown that both the barotropic and the internal Rossby waves are well separated from the gravity waves and that they can be represented accurately by the quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity equation, even close to the equator, except for the one member withn=0 which is coupled with an eastward propagating gravity wave.     

Finite-amplitude mountain waves in a compressible atmosphere including the effects of dissipation

Abstract

Adiabatic, two-dimensional, steady-state finite-amplitude, hydrostatic gravity waves produced by flow over a ridge are considered. Nonlinear self advection steepens the wave until the streamlines attain a vertical slope at a critical height z_c. The height z_c , where this occurs, depends on the ridge crest height and adiabatic expansion of the atmosphere. Dissipation is introduced in order to balance nonlinear self advection, and to maintain a marginal state above z_c. The approach is to assume that the wave is inviscid except in a thin layer, small compared to a vertical wavelength, where dissipation cannot be neglected. The solutions in each region are matched to obtain a continuous solution for the streamline displacement δ. Solutions are presented for different values of the nondimensional dissipation parameter β. Eddy viscosity coefficients and the thickness of the dissipative layer are expressed as functions of β, and their magnitudes are compared to other theoretical evaluations and to values inferred from radar measurements of the stratosphere.

The Fourier spectrum of the solution for z ≫ z_c is shown to decay exponentially at large vertical wave numbers n. In comparison, a spectral decay law n ^?-8/3 characterizes the marginal state of the wave at z = z_c .     

基于Boussinesq型方程的钱塘江涌潮数值模拟

钱塘江因其恢弘的涌潮现象而举世闻名,对钱塘江涌潮形成机理的探究具有理论与应用双重价值.本文建立了考虑非线性、频散以及耗散作用的二维高阶Boussinesq型方程,并结合有限体积数值方法来描述钱塘江涌潮这一物理过程,复演了最具代表性的"交叉潮"、"一线潮"和"回头潮"三大潮景,同时展现了涌潮的二次自由面起伏现象,重现了钱塘江涌潮的形成、发展和消亡三个完整阶段.从涌潮高度、涌潮速度等涌潮传播表征指标进行探究,分析了不同河段潮景的形成过程以及特征,模拟结果与实际观测结论相吻合.潮景的形成是涌潮进入不同发展阶段的重要标志,"交叉潮"出现在涌潮的形成初期,Froude数接近1,涌潮高度在0.5 m左右;涌潮进入盐官河段后,强度开始增强,形成"一线潮",Froude保持在1.45以上,涌潮高度最大可达3 m以上;"回头潮"出现之后,涌潮强度开始减弱,于三工段区域再次形成小规模的"一线潮",Froude数在1.3~1.4之间,涌潮高度约为2 m;七堡之后,上溯的涌潮进入消亡阶段,Froude数减小至1.3以下,涌潮高度约为1 m.此次研究有助于对钱塘江涌潮特性的进一步认识.     

Optical measurement in the middle atmosphere

The various measurement techniques and general problems in remote orin situ optical measurement of atmospheric minor gases are described.     

Solar cycle changes to planetary wave propagation and their influence on the middle atmosphere circulation

Recent observations suggest that there may be a causal relationship between solar activity and the strength of the winter Northern Hemisphere circulation in the stratosphere. A three-dimensional model of the atmosphere between 10–140 km was developed to assess the influence of solar minimum and solar maximum conditions on the propagation of planetary waves and the subsequent changes to the circulation of the stratosphere. Ultraviolet heating in the middle atmosphere was kept constant in order to emphasise the importance of non-linear dynamical coupling. A realistic thermo-sphere was achieved by relaxing the upper layers to the MSIS-90 empirical temperature model. In the summer hemisphere, strong radiative damping prevents significant dynamical coupling from taking place. Within the dynamically controlled winter hemisphere, small perturbations are reinforced over long periods of time, resulting in systematic changes to the stratospheric circulation. The winter vortex was significantly weakened during solar maximum and western phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation, in accordance with reported 30 mb geopotential height and total ozone measurements.     

The role of gravity waves in tropospheric processes

Summary The nature and the role of gravity waves in the troposphere is briefly discussed and reviewed. After describing some basic properties of gravity waves and their generation mechanisms, we analyze their ability to influence phase changes, trigger and organize convective cells, to produce and interact with turbulence, and to affect diffusive processes in the atmosphere. Throughout, the emphasis is placed on the physical processes involved in the interaction of gravity waves with mesoscale and planetary boundary layer phenomena. Also discussed and reviewed are those remote sensing devices which are particularly useful in revealing and measuring such waves. Finally, an attempt is made to outline possible lines of future work for the purpose of fully understanding the role of gravity waves in mesoscale and microscale dynamics.