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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
08:54
Measurements of Waves in a Wind-wave Tank Under Steady and Time-varying Wind Forcing
Published on: February 13, 2018
Summary
Turbulence measurements from aircraft may be inaccurate. Atmospheric waves, not turbulence, might explain observed fluctuations, invalidating previous stratospheric transport estimates.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric science
- Stratospheric chemistry
- Turbulence modeling
Background:
- Ozone layer depletion is influenced by stratospheric transport.
- Vertical transport in the stratosphere is poorly understood.
- Previous studies relied on aircraft measurements to estimate turbulence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To question the validity of previous turbulence estimates in the stratosphere.
- To propose an alternative explanation for observed velocity fluctuations.
- To assess the role of atmospheric waves in stratospheric transport.
Main Methods:
- Re-evaluation of aircraft in situ measurements of velocity fluctuations.
- Hypothesizing that observed fluctuations are caused by atmospheric waves.
- Challenging the interpretation of classical turbulence spectra.
Main Results:
- Aircraft measurements previously attributed to turbulence may actually stem from atmospheric waves.
- This reinterpretation suggests existing estimates of stratospheric turbulence transport are invalid.
- The classical turbulence spectrum observed might be misleading.
Conclusions:
- Previous estimates of vertical transport in the stratosphere may be fundamentally flawed.
- Atmospheric waves, not turbulence, could be the dominant driver of vertical transport.
- Further experimental validation is required to confirm the role of atmospheric waves.
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