All Physics Faculty Publications

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Geophysical Research Letters

Volume

18

Issue

7

Publisher

American Geophysical Union

Publication Date

7-1991

First Page

1337

Last Page

1340

Abstract

Near infrared images showing wave structure in the hydroxyl (OH) nightglow emission have been obtained from Maui, Hawaii during the ALOHA‐90 campaign. Analysis of two nights during this campaign (25 and 31 March) indicate extensive, highly coherent, linear wave patterns of very short apparent period (∼5 and 10 min respectively). Both displays exhibited several features characteristic of the in situ breakdown of a large scale, long period, upper atmospheric wave disturbance. Data in support of this mechanism was found by other ALOHA instruments which detected concurrent long period (1–2 hour) mesospheric wave disturbances on both occasions. However, a tropospheric source for these waves cannot be ruled out. At least on 25 March a weather front occurred at ∼1400 km range with a favourable orientation and location. Although its range was relatively large, background winds may have substantially increased the path length of the waves through the intervening atmosphere.

Comments

Published by the American Geophysical Union in Geophysical Research Letters: http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/1991/91GL01516.shtml

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