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.     

Mesospheric bore events in the equatorial middle atmosphere

An all-sky CCD imager designed to measure wave structure of the OH, O₂b(0,1) and OI557.7 nm airglow emission layers in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region has been operated near the equatorial region at São João do Cariri (Cariri), Brazil, (7.5°S, 36.5°W). A large number of gravity wave was observed from September 2000 to September 2002 and among them 64 wave events were identified as mesospheric bores. The bore front shows a horizontal extension greater than 1000 km, and observed in the airglow layers as a complementary brilliance between the three emissions. At the first time mesospheric bore events were observed and analyzed in the equatorial region. Their predominant characteristics, occurrence, local time dependency, morphology and propagation direction will be presented and discussed.     

The global distribution of gravity wave energy in the lower stratosphere derived from GPS data and gravity wave modelling: Attempt and challenges

Five years of global temperatures retrieved from radio occultations measured by Champ (Challenging Minisatellite Payload) and SAC-C (Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas-C) are analyzed for gravity waves (GWs). In order to separate GWs from other atmospheric variations, a high-pass filter was applied on the vertical profile. Resulting temperature fluctuations correspond to vertical wavelengths between 400 m (instrumental resolution) and 10 km (limit of the high-pass filter). The temperature fluctuations can be converted into GW potential energy, but for comparison with parameterization schemes GW momentum flux is required. We therefore used representative values for the vertical and horizontal wavelength to infer GW momentum flux from the GPS measurements. The vertical wavelength value is determined by high-pass filtering, the horizontal wavelength is adopted from a latitude-dependent climatology. The obtained momentum flux distributions agree well, both in global distribution and in absolute values, with simulations using the Warner and McIntyre parameterization (WM) scheme. However, discrepancies are found in the annual cycle. Online simulations, implementing the WM scheme in the mechanistic COMMA-LIM (Cologne Model of the Middle Atmosphere—Leipzig Institute for Meteorology) general circulation model (GCM), do not converge, demonstrating that a good representation of GWs in a GCM requires both a realistic launch distribution and an adequate representation of GW breaking and momentum transfer.     

Modelled effect of changes in the CO2 concentration on the middle and upper atmosphere: Sensitivity to gravity wave parameterization

We have studied the temperature response to changes in the CO₂ concentration in the middle and upper atmosphere using the Coupled Middle Atmosphere–Thermosphere Model 2 (CMAT2). We have performed simulations with a range of CO₂ concentrations and three different ways of accounting for the effects of gravity waves, to allow for comparison with previous studies and sensitivity analyses. We initially find that the response of the model to the changes in CO₂ concentration which took place between 1965 and 1995 (320–360 ppm) is strongly dependent on the gravity wave parameterization that is used, but this is to a large degree due to steps or kinks in an otherwise nearly linear curve describing the temperature as a function of CO₂ concentration. We have not been able to identify the cause of these steps as part of the present study, which is a limitation and must be studied in future work. Here we treated the steps as model noise and rather focused on correcting for their effects by fitting straight lines to the temperature–CO₂ curves to estimate the overall slope of the curves. From these slopes we were able to obtain more robust trend estimates than can be obtained by comparing only two model simulations, as is normally done in other, similar studies. The corrected temperature responses to a 40 ppm change in CO₂ concentration still show up to 15–17% sensitivity to the gravity wave parameterization in the mesosphere and thermosphere. This remaining sensitivity is likely to be related to the fundamental differences in the way a change in temperature modifies the propagation and dissipation characteristics of gravity waves in each parameterization, which is particularly different for linear and non-linear schemes. The corrected trends we find are largely in agreement with other modelling studies, and therefore do not fully explain observed trends, which are typically larger than those predicted by modelling studies. However, modelling results could be similarly sensitive to other model parameters and settings, for example to gravity wave characteristics or solar activity level, and this should be further investigated as well.     

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1000 km.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1000 km,周期在15~25 h,垂直波长主要在8~12 km.最后,利用AIRS观测资料分析了平流层30~40 km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.     

基于COSMIC卫星观测数据的平流层重力波的全球分布特征研究

本文利用2007年1月至2012年12月的COSMIC卫星温度剖线,从中提取了垂直波长在3~10 km的重力波扰动信息,进而分析了全球平流层大气重力波的分布特征.赤道地区低平流层重力波表现出明显的准两年变化,这种变化与风场的准两年变化具有明显的相关性,向下发展速度约为1 km/月;赤道地区高平流层(35 km以上区域)的重力波活动则存在明显的半年变化.中高纬度重力波活动主要表现为冬季强夏季弱.在南极地区存在着与急流的时间、空间以及强度变化密切相关的重力波分布特征,这说明在南极极夜急流是非常重要的一个重力波源;而在北极极夜急流的作用则没有那么强.此外,通过考察不同高度的重力波活动特征,我们发现:30 km以下重力波活动较强区域主要在赤道地区且与强对流区分布基本吻合,地形诱发的以及与天气系统相关的强重力波活动在该高度范围内同样出现;而在30 km以上的区域重力波活动强度分布则会出现与平流层爆发性增温以及极夜急流有关的变化.     

重力波诱导OH气辉分布的变化

利用全隐欧拉格式和全球热层-电离层-中间层-电动力学环流耦合模式（TIME GCM） ,本文分析了非线性重力波在向上传播过程中对OH气辉廓线的影响,结果表明,当较小垂直 尺度重力波经过OH气辉发射层时,对其峰值分布有明显的影响,有时会出现双峰现象,说明 非线性重力波传播是引起气辉双峰分布的一个直接原因;重力波在中层顶区域的破碎 在OH气辉分布均有不同程度的表现,这不仅可以解释一些实际的观测,同时也对利用OH气辉 观测分析重力波传播特性有明显的指示意义.      

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.     

A theory of enhanced saturation of the gravity wave spectrum due to increases in atmospheric stability

In this paper we consider a vertical wavenumber spectrum of vertically propagating gravity waves impinging on a rapid increase in atmospheric stability. If the high-wavenumber range is saturated below the increase, as is usually observed, then the compression of vertical scales as the waves enter a region of higher stability results in that range becoming supersaturated, that is, the spectral amplitude becomes larger than the saturation limit. The supersaturated wave energy must then dissipate in a vertical distance of the order of a wavelength, resulting in an enhanced turbulent energy dissipation rate. If the wave spectrum is azimuthally anisotropic, the dissipation also results in an enhanced vertical divergence of the vertical flux of horizontal momentum and enhanced wave drag in the same region. Estimates of the enhanced dissipation rates and radar reflectivities appear to be consistent with the enhancements observed near the high-latitude summer mesopause. Estimates of the enhanced mean flow acceleration appear to be consistent with the wave drag that is needed near the tropopause and the high-latitude summer mesopause in large-scale models of the atmosphere. Thus, this process may play a significant role in determining the global effects of gravity waves on the large-scale circulation.     

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,较大值分布在冬季半球和25°N到25°S的热带范围,其中热带范围重力波的峰值随着高度向北移动,而在南半球高纬度地区重力波扰动较大值位于极区涡流的边缘.热带范围的扰动沿着经度方向有明显的变化,这是由风过滤、地形和波动等因素共同作用的结果.重力波扰动强度随高度变化,在25~30 km处呈现下降趋势,而超过42 km后又逐渐递增.对比8年平均的重力波在不同高度的强弱分布,可以看到,在较低高度,重力波的强弱明显与地形有关,而在较高高度,重力波的分布与地形的关系变得不明显.这说明重力波的形成与地形有显著相关性,但在传播过程中重力波的分布会随高度出现明显的变化.     

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.     

夜光云内小尺度重力波对冰晶粒径谱的影响规律研究

本文利用AIM卫星搭载的CIPS云图反照率和冰晶粒径数据,从中提取了2007/08南半球和2008年北半球共6489个小尺度重力波活动(波长5~150km范围)个例,对重力波区域与背景云层冰晶粒径谱进行对比分析,从而研究重力波对冰晶平均半径和谱宽的影响规律.结果表明,北半球重力波区域冰晶的平均半径和谱宽分别比背景云层小2.5nm和6.1nm,南半球则分别减小1.1nm和7.9nm.在随纬度的分布上,小于80°时,南北半球的平均半径扰动值均为负值,绝对值随纬度增大而减小,而大于80°时,负扰动转变为正扰动,且绝对值增加;谱宽扰动的绝对值也随着纬度增加而减小,但均为负值.在季节内随时间的分布上,南北半球重力波对冰晶平均半径和谱宽的扰动在始末阶段以负值为主,且绝对值较大,而在中期阶段正负值相当,且绝对值较小.这一特征与重力波引起冰晶粒径变化的振幅在纬度和时间上的分布趋势一致.重力波的波长均随纬度升高而减小,在季节的始末阶段较大,中期小,且南半球的平均波长和变化幅度都要明显大于北半球的,粒径扰动振幅随波长的变化率为南半球0.207nm·km-1,北半球的0.163nm·km-1.根据分析推断,重力波自身的扰动振幅应与其影响区域内的谱参数相对于背景云层的变化量有直接关系,且振幅越大,平均半径和谱宽的负扰动就越大.     

A numerical experiment on the general circulation of the middle atmosphere with a three-dimensional model explicitly representing internal gravity waves and their breaking

The general circulation of the middle atmosphere is simulated by means of a three-dimensional primitive equation model which covers from the south pole to the north pole but is limited to a ten-degree sector in the latitudinal direction; cyclic conditions are imposed at the east—west lateral boundaries. The model is capable of explicitly representing internal gravity waves of zonal wavelength greater than a few hundred kilometers with the use of a one-degree mesh, but planetary-scale waves were excluded. No parameterization is employed for subgrid-scale eddy viscosity (or diffusivity).With the assumption of a simple external-heating function corresponding to solstice conditions, a time integration was performed for about thirty days from the motionless state. During the whole period, random forcings were imposed on each grid of the lowest level in order to generate small-scale upwardly propagating internal gravity waves.The experiment has shown that small-scale waves were indeed excited, propagated upward, broke up near the mesopause, and greatly changed the thermally induced zonal mean motion and temperature fields in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. As a result, important features of the general circulation at those levels, such as reversals of the zonal motion and the latitudinal gradient of zonal mean temperature were reproduced.     

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.     

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.     

用传输函数构建的大气重力波传播理论模式

本文根据考虑大气热传导和黏滞的重力波复色散关系,采用传输函数的概念,基于重力波的线性理论,构建了用于研究对流层内重力波激发源与电离层响应之间的传输函数数值模式.在相空间中讨论了传输函数振幅的分布特性,并以地面单位脉冲源为例,分析了从地面到300 km高空的响应,得到了物理量的时空分布特征.结果表明：（1）对内重力波的传播而言,大气相当于一个滤波器,只有波动周期在15～30 min,水平波长在200～450 km之间的重力波扰动才最容易到达300 km电离层高度;（2）电离层的响应主要在与地面的激发源之间相隔较远的水平距离上发生;（3）黏滞和热传导系数在低层对上传重力波的影响较小,随着高度的增加它们对重力波的影响越来越大;（4）在低层计算的波动频率与Row理论的计算结果比较一致,然而到了高层却相差较大.     

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.     

耗散大气中的声波射线追踪

基于分层大气中声波的局地色散关系方程,建立一种计入真实大气衰减效应的有耗大气声波射线追踪模型.在色散方程的虚部中导出声波在运动大气中的耗散系数和竖直方向上的增长因子,并利用真实大气中的衰减理论对所得到的耗散系数进行修正.利用Hamilton方程组解出大气声波在考虑耗散效应下的射线微分方程组.该有耗射线追踪模型的数值模拟结果表明,声波的耗散效应对声波的传播路径存在一定影响,在近场情况下,这种影响可以忽略,但是对于声波的远场传播,则影响较大.     

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.     

中间层顶重力波耗散引起钠原子输送的激光雷达观测研究

利用中国科学院国家空间科学中心廊坊站（40.0°N,116.3°E）钠荧光多普勒激光雷达2011年至2013年共约82 h的钠原子数密度和垂直风观测数据,分析了廊坊地区中间层顶区域大气重力波耗散引起的钠原子输送特征.分析得到,90~100 km处重力波耗散引起的平均钠原子垂直通量整体为负,钠原子向下输送,在93 km处达到最大负值-1.47×10⁸m^-3 m·s^-1,85~90 km处平均钠原子垂直通量为正,钠原子向上输送,但通量值随高度递减.钠原子垂直通量方向在90 km处发生转变,垂直通量随高度的变化造成钠原子汇聚,汇聚效应引起的平均钠原子产生率最大值在91 km处达到了1.40×10⁸ m^-3/h,该值超过了相同高度上模式计算流星烧蚀注入引起的钠原子产生率峰值,说明重力波耗散对钠层结构的形成具有重要影响.与美国SOR和Maui观测结果相比,平均钠原子产生率峰值大小相近,但出现高度不同,说明大气重力波耗散引起的物质输送具有显著的地域变化特征.研究结果可为大气物质输送理论的完善以及大气金属层物理模式的改进提供观测事实参考.