Other
Scientific paper
Oct 2001
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001jgr...10622725v&link_type=abstract
Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 106, Issue D19, p. 22725-22744
Other
8
Atmospheric Composition And Structure: Middle Atmosphere-Energy Deposition, Meteorology And Atmospheric Dynamics: Middle Atmosphere Dynamics, Meteorology And Atmospheric Dynamics: Waves And Tides, Meteorology And Atmospheric Dynamics: Instruments And Techniques
Scientific paper
In the late southern winter of 1998, Center National d'Études Spatiales (CNES), the French Space Agency, released six 10-m-diameter, superpressure balloons from a location near Quito, Ecuador. Three balloons collapsed soon after launching, but the remaining three drifted westward for a few weeks at altitudes between 19 and 20 km. Two of those balloons crossed the Pacific Ocean before falling above the ``maritime continent,'' while the other completed a revolution around the Earth and crossed the Pacific for a second time before its final fall. Despite the small number and the relatively short duration of the flights, the balloons provided a unique in situ data set for the lower equatorial stratosphere. This part 1 of a two-part paper describes this data set and analyzes outstanding features in the planetary scales. Part 2 focuses on gravity-wave scale. It is argued that balloon trajectories over the Pacific are primarily determined by the westward drift during the easterly phase of the equatorial quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and the meridional velocity field of a mixed Rossby-gravity (Yanai) wave with an apparent period of 4 days and zonal wave number 4. This wave appears to have two episodes of amplification during the balloon flights. It is also argued that the balloons show evidence of oscillations with periods between 2 and 4 days and of a Kelvin wave with an apparent period close to 10 days and zonal wave number 1. In this way, the balloon behavior provided a pictorial view of air parcel trajectory in the equatorial lower stratosphere. It is stated that larger balloon campaigns can provide excellent in situ data sets for studies on the dynamics and composition of the middle atmosphere.
Basdevant C.
Cocquerez Ph.
Dubourg Vincent
Hertzog Albert
Mechoso Carlos R.
No associations
LandOfFree
A study of the dynamics of the equatorial lower stratosphere by use of ultra-long-duration balloons, 1. Planetary scales does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with A study of the dynamics of the equatorial lower stratosphere by use of ultra-long-duration balloons, 1. Planetary scales, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A study of the dynamics of the equatorial lower stratosphere by use of ultra-long-duration balloons, 1. Planetary scales will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1002459