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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 32, L09801, doi:10.1029/2004GL021944, 2005

High frequency atmospheric gravity-wave properties using Fe-lidar and OH-imager observations

J. C. Diettrich

British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK


G. J. Nott

British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK


P. J. Espy

British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK


G. R. Swenson

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA


X. Chu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA


M. J. Taylor

Space Dynamics Laboratory and Department of Physics, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA


D. M. Riggin

Colorado Research Associates, Boulder, Colorado, USA


D. C. Fritts

Colorado Research Associates, Boulder, Colorado, USA


Abstract

Simultaneous iron resonance lidar density profiles, OH intensity images and MF-radar wind measurements have been used to determine the horizontal and vertical components of high-frequency (<=∼1 hour) atmospheric gravity waves (AGW). Previous investigations predicted that AGW information from lidars and imagers could only be combined over a limited range. Here, a novel approach to increasing the utility of the simultaneous lidar and OH imager measurement are presented. By temporally high-pass filtering each altitude-bin of the lidar profiles, the vertical wavelengths of AGW typically observed with the OH imager become apparent. Measured OH imager horizontal wavelengths were converted into vertical wavelengths using the dispersion relationship and background winds, showing that the instruments were able to observe the same waves. Hence, the lidar-imager combination is able to access the intrinsic wave components to allow investigation of AGW propagation and an assessment of the chemical waves effects on minor species chemistry.

Received 8 November 2004; accepted 23 March 2005; published 5 May 2005.

Index Terms: 3384 Atmospheric Processes: Acoustic-gravity waves; 3394 Atmospheric Processes: Instruments and techniques; 0310 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Airglow and aurora.

Subscriber Access to Full Article (Nonsubscribers may purchase for $9.00, Includes print PDF, file size: 196390 bytes)

Citation: Diettrich, J. C., G. J. Nott, P. J. Espy, G. R. Swenson, X. Chu, M. J. Taylor, D. M. Riggin, and D. C. Fritts (2005), High frequency atmospheric gravity-wave properties using Fe-lidar and OH-imager observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L09801, doi:10.1029/2004GL021944.