HR: 14:30h
AN: SA53A-05    [Abstracts]
TI: Zonal-mean temperature variations inferred from SABER measurements on TIMED compared with UARS observations
AU: Huang, F T
EM: fthuang@comcast.net
AF: Terranet Inc., 4900 Lisboro Rd., Mitchelville, MD 20720 United States
AU: * Mayr, H G
EM: hmayr@pop900.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt Rd., Greenbelt, MD 20771 United States
AU: Russell, J
EM: JAMES.RUSSELL@hamptonu.edu
AF: Hampton University, Center for Atmospheric Sciences, Hampton, VA, VA 23668 United States
AU: Mlynczak, M
EM: m.g.mlynczak@larc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA Langley Research Center, 21 Langley Blvd., Hampton, VA 23665
AU: Reber, C A
EM: carl.a.reber@nasa.gov
AF: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt Rd., Greenbelt, MD 20771 United States
AU: Reber, C A
EM: carl.a.reber@nasa.gov
AF: NASA Langley Research Center, 21 Langley Blvd., Hampton, VA 23665
AB: In the Numerical Spectral Model, small-scale gravity waves propagating in the north/south direction can generate zonal mean (m = 0) meridional wind oscillations with periods between 2 and 4 months (Mayr et al., JASTP, 2003). These oscillations tend to be confined to low latitudes and have been interpreted to be the meridional counterpart of the wave-driven Quasi Biennial Oscillation in the zonal circulation. Intra-annual scillations with similar periods have been seen in the meridional winds based on UARS data (Huang and Reber, JGR, 2003). Wave driven meridional winds across the equator should generate, due to dynamical heating and cooling, temperature oscillations with opposite phase in the two hemispheres. We have analyzed SABER temperature measurements in the altitude range between 55 and 95 km to investigate the existence of such variations. Because there are also strong tidal signatures (up to about 20§K) in the data, our algorithm estimates both mean values and tides together. Based on SABER temperature data, the intra-annual variations with periods between 2 and 4 months can have amplitudes up to 5 §K or more, depending on the altitude. Their amplitudes are in qualitative agreement with those inferred from UARS data (from different years). The SABER and UARS temperature variations reveal pronounced hemispherical asymmetries, which are qualitatively consistent with wave driven meridional wind oscillations across the equator.
DE: 0300 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE
DE: 0350 Pressure, density, and temperature
DE: 3332 Mesospheric dynamics
DE: 3334 Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342)
DE: 3384 Waves and tides
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly