HR: 16:15h
AN: SA32B-02    [PDF]
TI: Fast planetary waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere observed by SABER
AU: * Garcia, R R
EM: rgarcia@ucar.edu
AF: NCAR, 1850 Table Mesa Dr., Boulder, CO 80303 United States
AU: Lieberman, R
EM: rgarcia@ucar.edu
AF: Colorado Research Associates, 3380 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, CO 80301 United States
AB: SABER version 1.02 (non-LTE) temperature data is used to document the presence of fast, planetary-scale waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) for different seasons during 2002. The results show that, at periods $\tau < 5$ days, the planetary-scale wave field is dominated by migrating and non-migrating tides, equatorial Kelvin and inertia-gravity waves, and the 2-day wave. The latter actually appears as the strongest component of an ensemble of normal mode-like oscillations, with maximum amplitude at m=3 and 4 near 2 days. Temperature amplitudes associated with these waves range from a few K for the Kelvin waves and non-migrating tides to about 15 K for the diurnal tide; estimated horizontal velocity amplitudes are in the range 10-50 ms$^{-1}$. It is also shown by comparison with GCM results that these waves should produce large perturbations in the distribution of chemical species in the MLT.
DE: 3334 Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342)
DE: 3369 Thermospheric dynamics (0358)
DE: 3384 Waves and tides
SC: SPA - Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting