Gravity waves in the mesopause region observed by meteor radar, 2: Climatologies of gravity waves in the Antarctic and Arctic |
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| Authors: | CL Beldon NJ Mitchell |
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| Institution: | 1. Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;2. Computational Physics Inc., Boulder, CO 80301, USA;3. Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA;1. University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Chemistry and Physics, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa;2. South Africa National Space Agency, PO Box 32, Hermanus 7200, South Africa;3. Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, UK;4. South Africa National Space Agency, PO Box 484, Silverton 0127, Gauteng, South Africa;1. University of Leeds, United Kingdom;2. Virginia Tech, United States;3. Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Kühlungsborn, Germany;4. German Aerospace Centre-Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany;1. Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA;2. Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University-Lehigh Valley, Center Valley, PA, USA;1. Computational Physics, Inc., 1650 38th Street, Suite 105W, Boulder, CO 80301, USA;2. Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA;3. Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA;4. Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA;5. Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University, Kuhlungsborn, Germany;6. Center for Atmospheric Sciences, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, USA |
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| Abstract: | A simple technique has been used to investigate gravity waves in the Antarctic and Arctic mesosphere. Data from two meteor radars are used, one at Rothera in the Antarctic (68°S) and one at Esrange in the Arctic (68°N). Observations have been made from 2005 to 2008 in the Antarctic and from 2000 to 2008 in the Arctic. The results reveal a seasonal behaviour with a semi-annual cycle. Over both sites wave activity maximises at the solstices and minimises at the equinoxes. Monthly-mean gravity-wave activity increases with height in all seasons except in summer when gravity-wave variances show little or no increase with height at heights below about 90 km. Above about 90 km in summer there is a rapid increase in wave activity. We suggest that this summer-time behaviour is a consequence of rapid wave growth as gravity waves ascend into the more stable air of the lower thermosphere. Differences between the Arctic and Antarctic gravity-wave field are also evident. In particular, a higher level of gravity-wave activity is observed in the Antarctic spring compared to the Arctic spring. We suggest that these inter-hemispheric differences may be the result of differences in the generation of gravity waves in the polar troposphere and stratosphere. |
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