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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Atmospheres

 

Index Terms

  • Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Mesospheric dynamics
  • Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Waves and tides
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Middle atmosphere—energy deposition
  • Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Theoretical modeling
Abstract
Cited By (7)
 

Abstract

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 107, 4408, 8 PP., 2002
doi:10.1029/2001JD001186

Further investigations of a mesospheric inversion layer observed in the ALOHA-93 Campaign

Tai-Yin Huang

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA

Michael P. Hickey

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA

Tai-Fu Tuan

Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

E. M. Dewan

Air Force Research Laboratories, Space Vehicles Directorate, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, USA

R. H. Picard

Air Force Research Laboratories, Space Vehicles Directorate, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, USA

Temperature and wind data obtained from a Na wind/temperature lidar operated by the University of Illinois group during the Airborne Lidar and Observations of the Hawaiian Airglow (ALOHA-93) Campaign, previously analyzed by Huang et al. [1998] using an isothermal Brunt-Väisälä frequency, have been reexamined to include temperature gradients in the calculation of the Richardson number. In the previous analysis using the isothermal Brunt-Väisälä frequency the existence of convective instability could not be assessed. New analysis shows that the nonisothermal Richardson number preserves some features found previously, with some striking differences noticable at times between 0900 and 1030 UT. The nonisothermal Richardson number becomes negative as early as 0930 UT, indicating conditions conducive to the development of convective instability and turbulence. The possibility that turbulence could exist at times earlier than previously thought explains more satisfactorily the large temperature increase observed before 1000 UT.

Published 15 October 2002.

Citation: Huang, T.-Y., M. P. Hickey, T.-F. Tuan, E. M. Dewan, and R. H. Picard (2002), Further investigations of a mesospheric inversion layer observed in the ALOHA-93 Campaign, J. Geophys. Res., 107(D19), 4408, doi:10.1029/2001JD001186.

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