Measurements of Intermittency in the Upper Stratosphere and Mesosphere

Sica, R. J.; Thorsley, M. D.

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-60654-0_3

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The observed variations in the value of the ratio κ w /κ* seem to reflect the temporal variability of the wave energy density σ 2 (and therefore of the outer scale L *) that exists in the middle atmosphere [ Fritts et al , 1988; Whiteway and Carswell , 1994; Sica and Thorsley , 1997; Russel and Sica , 2001]. For instance, Whiteway and Carswell [1994] observed for several hours noticeable temporal changes in the distribution of the spectral density of the temperature fluctuations in the low–wave number region.…”

Section: Experimental Spectra Of Scintillations and Their Comparison mentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Earlier the existence of the vertical quasiperiodic density temperature and wind disturbances of relatively large scale (>500 m) were also found at different altitudes of the middle atmosphere [ Fritts et al , 1988; Whiteway and Carswell , 1994; Vincent et al , 1997]. For instance, such disturbances were found at the altitudes higher than 30 km in the spectra obtained from lidar measurements [ Whiteway and Carswell , 1994; Sica and Thorsley , 1997]. However, in these papers the spectra are given for the wave numbers less than 0.001 m −1 [ Whiteway and Carswell , 1994] or 0.003 m −1 [ Sica and Thorsley , 1997].…”

Section: Experimental Spectra Of Scintillations and Their Comparison mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, such disturbances were found at the altitudes higher than 30 km in the spectra obtained from lidar measurements [ Whiteway and Carswell , 1994; Sica and Thorsley , 1997]. However, in these papers the spectra are given for the wave numbers less than 0.001 m −1 [ Whiteway and Carswell , 1994] or 0.003 m −1 [ Sica and Thorsley , 1997]. A high resolution of the method based on observation of scintillations allowed us to identify reliably the highly anisotropic density inhomogeneities with the vertical scales less than 500 m and localize their height.…”

Section: Experimental Spectra Of Scintillations and Their Comparison mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estimates of characteristic scales in the spectrum of internal waves in the stratosphere obtained from space observations of stellar scintillations

Gurvich

Chunchuzov

2005

J. Geophys. Res.

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[1] Spatial spectra and characteristic scales of stratospheric density fluctuations obtained from the space station Mir observations of stellar scintillations are analyzed in this paper. The remote sensing method described is based on a well-known stellar scintillation phenomenon that arises when observing the stars through the Earth's atmosphere. To interpret scintillation spectra, a model of the three-dimensional (3-D) spectrum of atmospheric density fluctuations consisting of both turbulent and internal wave-associated spectral components is presented here. With the model chosen, we explain scintillation spectra at low frequencies by suggesting the atmospheric density fluctuations to be caused by a random ensemble of internal waves with the À5 power law decay for their 3-D energy spectrum. For the wave-associated anisotropic part of the spectrum, so-called outer and internal vertical scales are introduced to explain behavior of the observed scintillation spectra in their low-frequency range. These scales being earlier proposed only theoretically have been simultaneously revealed in the scintillation spectra presented here. The estimates of the outer scale for the different orbits of the space station are obtained and compared with those found from lidar and rocket soundings of the stratosphere. A possible cause of the observed variation in the wave number bandwidth of the waveassociated part of the spectrum of air density fluctuations is discussed.Citation: Gurvich, A., and I. Chunchuzov (2005), Estimates of characteristic scales in the spectrum of internal waves in the stratosphere obtained from space observations of stellar scintillations,

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Section: Experimental Spectra Of Scintillations and Their Comparison mentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Experimental Spectra Of Scintillations and Their Comparison mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Experimental Spectra Of Scintillations and Their Comparison mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estimates of characteristic scales in the spectrum of internal waves in the stratosphere obtained from space observations of stellar scintillations

Gurvich

Chunchuzov

2005

J. Geophys. Res.

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Observations of high‐frequency temporal gravity wave spectra in the middle upper stratosphere

Russell¹,

Sica²

2001

J. Geophys. Res.

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Abstract. There is a paucity of high-frequency temporal gravity wave spectra in the middle upper stratosphere (30-40 km) as most instruments that are capable of accessing this region do not have the capability to make measurements for any extended period of time. The spectral analysis of density fluctuations obtained with the Purple Crow Rayleigh scatter lidar has shown that middle upper stratospheric temporal spectra follow the expected -1.5 to -2.0 power law relationship for frequencies less than 1 x 10 -3 s -1. At frequencies greater than 1 x 10 -3 s -1, the shape of the temporal spectrum is much more variable, with strong quasi-monochromatic features appearing intermittently on certain nights. These higher-frequency features have been attributed to nonlinear wave interactions and suggest that estimates of gravity wave activity in the middle upper stratosphere may be larger and much more variable than previously assumed. This variability also suggests that middle upper stratospheric energy dissipation and eddy diffusion values may be much larger and more variable than previously assumed. Current parameterizations of subgrid dynamical processes in general circulation models that resolve this region may need to be reexamined in this light.

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Measurements of Intermittency in the Upper Stratosphere and Mesosphere

Cited by 2 publications

References 10 publications

Estimates of characteristic scales in the spectrum of internal waves in the stratosphere obtained from space observations of stellar scintillations

Estimates of characteristic scales in the spectrum of internal waves in the stratosphere obtained from space observations of stellar scintillations

Observations of high‐frequency temporal gravity wave spectra in the middle upper stratosphere

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