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Article
Time-resolved Ducting of Atmospheric Acoustic-gravity Waves by Analysis of the Vertical Energy Flux
Geophysical Research Letters
  • Yonghui Yu, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Michael P. Hickey, Ph.D., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Submitting Campus
Daytona Beach
Department
Physical Sciences
Document Type
Article
Publication/Presentation Date
1-30-2007
Disciplines
Abstract/Description

A new 2-D time-dependent model is used to simulate the propagation of an acoustic-gravity wave packet in the atmosphere. A Gaussian tropospheric heat source is assumed with a forcing period of 6.276 minutes. The atmospheric thermal structure creates three discrete wave ducts in the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere, respectively. The horizontally averaged vertical energy flux is derived over altitude and time in order to examine the time-resolved ducting. This ducting is characterized by alternating upward and downward energy fluxes within a particular duct, which clearly show the reflections occurring from the duct boundaries. These ducting simulations are the first that resolve the time-dependent vertical energy flux. They suggest that when ducted gravity waves are observed in the mesosphere they may also be observable at greater distances in the stratosphere.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2006GL028299
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Grant or Award Name
National Science Foundation ATM-0408407
Citation Information
Yu, Y., and M. P. Hickey (2007), Time-resolved ducting of atmospheric acoustic-gravity waves by analysis of the vertical energy flux, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L02821, doi:10.1029/2006GL028299.