Observations of Gravity Wave Propagation in the OI (557.7 nm), Na (589.2 nm) and the Near Infra-red OH Nightglow Emissions

Authors

Michael J. Taylor, Utah State UniversityFollow
M. A. Hapgood
P. Rothwell

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Planetary and Space Science

Volume

35

Issue

4

Publisher

Elsevier

Publication Date

4-1987

First Page

413

Last Page

427

Abstract

Images of wave-like structure in three nightglow emissions with different height profiles [the OI (557.7 nm) and Na (589.2 nm) lines and the OH bands between 715 and 810 nm] have been obtained with a low light TV system. A bright, well defined, curved wave pattern seen in these emissions on the evening of 14 August 1980 from the Gornergrat Observatory, Switzerland (45.98°N, 7.78°E) has been identified as the signature of a short period gravity wave propagating freely through the upper atmosphere in the height interval 80–100 km from a region over South-West France. The best fit parameters of the wave disturbance which produced the structures in the three airglow layers are wavelength = 6.5 ± 1.5 km, phase velocity = 5 ± 2 ms−1 (period = 21 ± 1 min) and phase propagation angle = 75° ± 3°, and were obtained by assuming a background wind with a horizontal component of 18 ms−1.

Comments

Originally Published by Elsevier in Planetary and Space Science http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0032063387900985

Publisher PDF is available through the link above. Publisher requires a subscription to access the article.

Recommended Citation

Taylor, M.J., M.A. Hapgood, and P. Rothwell, Observations of gravity wave propagation in the OI (557.7 nm), Na (589.2 nm) and the near infra-red OH nightglow emissions, Planet. Space Sci., 35, 413, 1987.

https://doi.org/10.1016/0032-0633(87)90098-5