A possible mechanism for in situ forcing of planetary waves in the summer extratropical mesosphere

Journal article

An examination of zonal asymmetries in meridional momentum flux reaching the mesosphere is made using the Hines Doppler spread parameterization of gravity waves. As expected a general correspondence is seen between wave one wind in the stratosphere and wave one signals in gravity wave momentum flux leaving the stratosphere. However, a significant difference is the presence of wave one features in the gravity-wave momentum flux at 56 km and ∼70°N during mid-summer which contrast with minimal signals in stratospheric wave one wind. The prominence of this feature is accounted for by a significant wave one Brunt-Väisälä feature at the tropopause amplifying a wave one signal in momentum flux which can then propagate to great heights. Such a feature could result in mesospheric planetary waves which are coupled to the tropopause forcing without intervening planetary wave signals in the stratosphere.

Authors: Osprey, S; Lawrence, B

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 1183-1186
• Publication date: 2001-04-01
• DOI: 10.1029/2000GL011984
• ISSN: 0094-8276
• Language: English