Investigating Mesospheric Gravity Wave Dynamics and Temperature Variability over the Andes

Salt Lake Community College Student Center

Observations of mesospheric OH(6,2) temperatures by the Utah State University Mesospheric Temperature Mapper located at Cerro Pachon, Chile (30.3°S, 70.7°S) reveal a large range of nightly variations induced by atmospheric gravity waves and tides, as well as strong seasonal oscillations. Comparative studies with other data sets including the satellite-borne SABER instrument show good agreement on nightly, as well as seasonal, temperature measurements.