Summary: Characteristics of gravity waves with short vertical wavelengths
observed with radiosonde and GPS occultation during DAWEX
(Darwin Area Wave Experiment)
Toshitaka Tsuda,1
M. Venkat Ratnam,1
Peter T. May,2
M. Joan Alexander,3
Robert A. Vincent,4
and Andrew MacKinnon4
Received 22 April 2004; revised 13 August 2004; accepted 27 August 2004; published 30 October 2004.
[1] We conducted radiosonde soundings during three intensive observation periods (IOP)
of the Darwin Area Wave Experiment (DAWEX) campaign in October to December 2001
and measured humidity, temperature, and wind velocity up to $30­35 km every 3 hours
for 40 times at three sites in each IOP. We analyzed height profiles of kinetic (Ek) and
potential (Ep) energy per unit mass caused by gravity waves with vertical wavelengths less
than 3 km. The wave energy was clearly enhanced between 15­20 km and 25­30 km,
and it was considerably depressed at 20­25 km between the two height regions. This
feature was seen at all the sites during the three IOPs. Different types of wave activity
seem to contribute to the enhancement of Ek and Ep below 20 km and at 25­30 km.
Height distribution of the wave energy at 20­30 km seems to correlate with the structure

Source: Alexander, M. Joan - Colorado Research Associates Division, Northwest Research Associates, Inc.

Collections: Geosciences