First Direct Observational Evidence for Secondary Gravity Waves Generated by Mountain Waves Over the Andes

Masaru Kogure, Jia Yue, Takuji Nakamura, Lars Hoffmann, Sharon L. Vadas, Yoshihiro Tomikawa, Mitsumu K. Ejiri, Diego Janches

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A mountain wave with a significant brightness temperature amplitude and ~500 km horizontal wavelength was observed over the Andes on 24–25 July 2017 in Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS)/Aqua satellite data. In the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2), reanalysis data, the intense eastward wind flowed over the Andes. Visible/Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)/Suomi-NPP (National Polar-orbiting Partnership) did not detect the mountain waves; however, it observed concentric ring-like waves in the nightglow emissions at ~87 km with ~100 km wavelengths on the same night over and leeward of the Southern Andes. A ray tracing analysis showed that the mountain waves propagated to the east of the Andes, where concentric ring-like waves appeared above a region of mountain wave breaking. Therefore, the concentric ring-like waves were likely secondary waves generated by momentum deposition that accompanied mountain wave breaking. These results provide the first direct evidence for secondary gravity waves generated by momentum deposition.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2020GL088845
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume47
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 16 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geophysics
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)

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