Initial MST radar observations of upper tropospheric-lower stratospheric duct-like structures over Jicamarca, Peru

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-30-2012

Abstract

Persistent wind jet structures along zonal and meridional fields, believed to be caused by stationary gravity waves, were detected in February 1999 in mesosphere-stratosphere-troposphere (MST) radar wind measurements of the troposphere and lower stratosphere over Jicamarca, Peru. Over a continuous seven day span of MST-data analyzed in this study, two days of observations showed signatures of wave-like structures in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere wind jets associated with the phases of the stationary gravity waves. We believe these wave-like structures are ducted gravity waves. We present these initial observations, their characteristics, and the results of simple numerical simulations used in an attempt to mimic these observed features. Although a fair replication of the observed ducted structure in the numerical model is found, the observed period of ∼90 min is nonetheless much longer than what is traditionally observed. As a result, the specific physical nature of the observed structures is not fully established. Nevertheless, given the high quality of the observations, we demonstrate here that continued analysis of this data set and concurrent modeling efforts will allow for a better understanding of Doppler ducts at high spatial and temporal resolution, and the results presented here can ultimately be applied to studies of middle atmospheric fronts, ducts, and bores. © Author(s) 2012.

Identifier

84870033111 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-11085-2012

e-ISSN

16807324

ISSN

16807316

First Page

11085

Last Page

11093

Issue

22

Volume

12

Grant

0735452

Fund Ref

National Science Foundation

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS