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Updated: Aug 11, 2025
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Measurements of Waves in a Wind-wave Tank Under Steady and Time-varying Wind Forcing
Published on: February 13, 2018
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Using sub-limb observations to measure gravity waves excited by convection
Corwin J Wright1, Jörn Ungermann2, Peter Preusse2
1Centre for Space, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Bath, Bath, UK. C.Wright@bath.ac.uk.
NPJ Microgravity
|February 8, 2023
Summary
Convective gravity waves drive atmospheric circulation. A satellite with sub-limb geometry can observe these waves, clarifying their momentum flux and improving atmospheric models.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric science
- Aeronomy
- Meteorology
Background:
- Convective gravity waves significantly influence Earth's atmospheric circulation, including the stratospheric and mesospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and Brewer-Dobson circulation.
- Both single convective cells and mesoscale convective complexes excite these waves, but their relative contributions and momentum transport remain uncertain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the partitioning of gravity waves generated by different convective systems.
- To determine the momentum flux transported by these waves for improved atmospheric model development.
- To assess the suitability of a sub-limb satellite instrument for observing these phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical calculations were performed to model gravity wave generation.
- Sampled output from a high-resolution weather model was analyzed.
- The potential of a sub-limb satellite instrument was evaluated for observational capabilities.
Main Results:
- A sub-limb satellite instrument geometry is well-suited for characterizing short-vertical, short-horizontal gravity waves.
- This observational approach can provide crucial data on wave generation and momentum transport.
- The study demonstrates a pathway to resolve uncertainties in convective gravity wave contributions.
Conclusions:
- Satellite observations using a sub-limb geometry are essential for understanding gravity wave impacts on atmospheric circulation.
- This method will enable better quantification of momentum flux from different convective excitation processes.
- The findings will significantly advance atmospheric modeling capabilities for circulation prediction.
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