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Gravity Wave Influences On Mesoscale Divergence: An Observational Case Study

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Abstract

Characteristics of tropospheric low-frequency gravity waves are diagnosed in radiosonde soundings from the Tropical Warm Pool-International Cloud Experiment near Darwin, Australia. The waves have typical vertical wavelengths of about 4 km, horizontal wavelengths of about 600 km, and intrinsic periods of about 12 hr. These scales match those of the vertical, horizontal, and temporal variability found in area-averaged horizontal wind divergence over the same domain. Vertical profiles of divergence show wave-like structures with variability of the order of 2 (Formula presented.) 10 (Formula presented.) s (Formula presented.) in the free troposphere. The results for Darwin are similar to previously reported observed mesoscale patterns of divergence/convergence over the tropical Atlantic. The findings imply that tropical divergence on spatial scales of a few hundred kilometers, which is known to influence the organization of convection, may be forced by gravity waves.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2019GL086539
Number of pages9
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume47
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Jan 2020

Keywords

  • convective organization
  • gravity waves
  • mesocale divergence
  • radiosonde soundings
  • tropical convection
  • troposphere

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    • ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes

      Pitman, A. J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Jakob, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Alexander, L. V. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Reeder, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Roderick, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), England, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Abramowitz, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Abram, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Arblaster, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bindoff, N. L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Dommenget, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Evans, J. P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McColl Hogg, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Holbrook, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Karoly, D. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lane, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sherwood, S. C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Strutton, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ebert, E. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Hendon, H. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Hirst, A. C. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Marsland, S. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Matear, R. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Protat, A. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Wang, Y. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Wheeler, M. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Best, M. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Brody, S. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Grabowski, W. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Griffies, S. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Gruber, N. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Gupta, H. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Hallberg, R. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Hohenegger, C. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Knutti, R. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Meehl, G. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Milton, S. (Partner Investigator (PI)), de Noblet-Ducoudre, N. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Or, D. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Petch, J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Peters-Lidard, C. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Overpeck, J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Russell, J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Santanello, J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Seneviratne, S. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Stephens, G. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Stevens, B. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Stott, P. A. (Partner Investigator (PI)) & Saunders, K. (Chief Investigator (CI))

      Monash University – Internal University Contribution, Monash University – Internal School Contribution, Monash University – Internal Faculty Contribution, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australian National University (ANU), University of Melbourne, University of Tasmania, Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) (Australia), Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) (New South Wales)

      1/01/17 → 31/12/24

      Project: Research

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