Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufmsa31b1980s&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #SA31B-1980
Other
[0310] Atmospheric Composition And Structure / Airglow And Aurora, [3384] Atmospheric Processes / Acoustic-Gravity Waves
Scientific paper
The structure of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region is at times able to support ducted gravity wave propagation in a dual duct system: a lower-thermospheric thermal duct (LTD) that is always present, and an upper-mesospheric thermal duct that forms from an upper-mesospheric inversion layer (MIL). The combined effects of temperature and wind structure (sometimes to the extent of causing "Doppler" ducting, where wind is the Doppler shift becomes the dominant trapping mechanism) may lead to strongly-resonant ducted wave modes that can be easily forced to large amplitude. These modes may be initially excited by mechanisms such as gravity wave breaking or nonlinear interaction at duct altitudes [e.g., Snively and Pasko, JGR, 113, A06303, 2008], or via upward propagating linear waves which tunnel through the lower duct boundaries. In the latter case, excitation to large amplitudes is favored if the wave frequency and wavenumber closely match a duct resonance mode. Even waves that are not fully resonant may tunnel effectively between ducts, leading to dissipation as the waves ascend vertically [e.g., Snively and Taylor, AGU FM, SA54A-04, 2008]. Here we investigate cases where resonant duct modes are shared between the LTD and MIL [e.g., Walterscheid and Hickey, JGR, 114, D19109, 2009], allowing strong waves in the MIL to effectively excite even stronger waves in the LTD. Using steady-state linear and nonlinear time-dependent models in combination, we examine the coupling between MIL and LTD modes, and the generation and evolution of the large amplitude ducted wave modes. The linear model is first used to identify resonance modes, and the nonlinear model is then used to investigate the evolution of waves, from moderate-amplitude quasi-linear waves to large-amplitude nonlinear waves approaching the onset of breaking. We find that waves forced in one duct can profoundly affect the other, especially under resonant conditions where large amplitudes may be easily attained. Stable waves in the MIL may often be accompanied by waves at nonlinear or breaking amplitudes in the LTD; the LTD waves may exhibit complex and nonlinear behavior, while the MIL exhibits stable, lasting, modal structure.
Hickey Michael P.
Snively Jonathan B.
Walterscheid Richard L.
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