Gravity wave spectra in the middle atmosphere as observed by Rayleigh lidar

Richard Wilson (1) , Alain Hauchecorne (1) , Marie-Lise Chanin (1)

1 SA - Service d'aéronomie

Rayleigh lidar offers the unique ability to make routine measurements of temperature (or density) mesoscale fluctuations in the 30 to 75 km altitude range. Power spectra of density and temperature fluctuations, versus vertical wavenumber and (apparent) frequency, are derived from lidar measurements. These spectra are interpreted in the framework of the gravity wave theory. Power spectral density increases from the stratosphere to the mesosphere in the entire accessible spectral range. Comparison with vertical spectra obtained with various sounding systems indicates a dispersion of the temperature power spectra in the stratosphere as an increase with altitude of the ratio of potential to kinetic energy.

Keywords: Temperature Measurement; Vertical Distribution; Middle atmosphere dynamics; Waves and tides; Gravity Waves; Optical Radar; Power Spectra; Spectral Methods; Atmospheric Temperature; Mesoscale Phenomena; Mesosphere; Stratosphere

Domains: Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics [physics.ao-ph]

Richard Wilson, Alain Hauchecorne, Marie-Lise Chanin. Gravity wave spectra in the middle atmosphere as observed by Rayleigh lidar. Geophysical Research Letters, 1990, 17 (10), pp.1585-1588. ⟨10.1029/GL017i010p01585⟩. ⟨insu-03130581⟩