Work

Observation of Horizontal Gravity Wave Activity in the Upper Stratosphere Using Monostatic Rayleigh Lidar

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The prediction accuracy of the General Circulation Model (GCM) is influenced by the effectiveness of gravity wave activity parameterization. Although research focuses on small-scale horizontal gravity wave activity as a carrier for energy and momentum coupling between atmospheric layers, routine observations of horizontal gravity wave activity on scales less than a dozen kilometers are scarce due to limitations in observational instruments. This paper presents a method for observing small-scale horizontal gravity waves using monostatic Rayleigh lidar, along with the associated data processing workflow. The data processing results indicate that the observed gravity waves generally exhibit wavelengths less than 3 km and phase velocities less than 0.5 m/s. Furthermore, the annual variation in small-scale horizontal gravity waves displays a semi-annual oscillation (SAO), like that observed in medium- and large-scale waves. This suggests that the observed gravity waves originate from secondary gravity waves resulting from saturation dissipation or breaking.

Source: Atmosphere

DOI: 10.3390/atmos16121376

Authors: Xueming Li, Xuanyu Zheng, Shaohua Gong, Qihai Chang

Institutions: China Meteorological Administration, Xizang Minzu University, Hainan Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Atmospheric Ozone and Climate

Subfield: Atmospheric Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896