Document Type
Presentation
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Annual Meeting of the Four Corners Section of the APS
Publication Date
10-30-2014
Abstract
Focusing on data from the SABER instrument aboard the TIMED satellite temperature variances are determined as a function of altitude to quantify small scale gravity waves. This was done using IDL software to extract all the temperature profile measurements that were measured by SABER within a limited geographical area, centered on our ground-based optical imager at Cerro Pachon, Chile (30.3°S, 70.7°S). Then large-scale tidal waves, with wavenumbers 0-6, were removed from each profile revealing the gravity wave perturbations. The temperature variance were computed and recorded at several altitudes. Temperature variances reveal possible increased activity due to mountain waves. Mountain waves in the mesosphere are a relatively unexplored field in aeronomy. They are generated by strong winds blowing over mountains creating stationary waves as viewed from the ground. They propagate upwards depositing momentum and energy, and grow in amplitude predominantly in the winter months. Initial results will be shown comparing satellite and ground-based observations. This technique has high potential for investigating gravity wave effects with other ground-based measurements around the world.
Recommended Citation
Jonathan, P., Michael, T., Yucheng, Z., Dominque, P., & Russell James. (2014, October 17). TIMED/SABER satellite investigations of mesospheric gravity wave variances over the Andes. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Four Corners Section of the APS, Orem, Utah.
Comments
Presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Four Corners Section of the APS. Presentation slides are available for download through link above.