All Physics Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Volume
122
Issue
15
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Publication Date
8-16-2017
First Page
7834
Last Page
7850
Abstract
Multiple events during the Deep Propagating Gravity Wave Experiment measurement program revealed mountain wave (MW) breaking at multiple altitudes over the Southern Island of New Zealand. These events were measured during several research flights from the National Science Foundation/National Center for Atmospheric Research Gulfstream V aircraft, utilizing a Rayleigh lidar, an Na lidar, and an Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper simultaneously. A flight on 29 June 2014 observed MWs with horizontal wavelengths of ~80_120ækm breaking in the stratosphere from ~10 to 50ækm altitude. A flight on 13 July 2014 observed a horizontal wavelength of ~200_240ækm MW extending from 20 to 90ækm in altitude before breaking. Data from these flights show evidence for secondary gravity wave (SGW) generation near the breaking regions. The horizontal wavelengths of these SGWs are smaller than those of the breaking MWs, indicating a nonlinear generation mechanism. These observations reveal some of the complexities associated with MW breaking and the implications this can have on momentum fluxes accompanying SGWs over MW breaking regions. ©2017. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Recommended Citation
Bossert K., D.C. Fritts, C.G. Kruse, B.P. Williams, C.J. Heale, P.-D. Pautet, M.J. Taylor, and J.B. Snively, Secondary Gravity Wave Generation Over New Zealand During the DEEPWAVE Campaign, J. Geophys. Res., DOI: 10.1002/2016JD026079, 2017
