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Gravity waves generated by a tropical cyclone during the STEP tropical field program - A case studyOverflights of a tropical cyclone during the Australian winter monsoon field experiment of the Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange Project (STEP) show the presence of two mesoscale phenomena: a vertically propagating gravity wave with a horizontal wavelength of about 110 km and a feature with a horizontal scale comparable to that of the cyclone's entire cloud shield. The larger feature is fairly steady, though its physical interpretation is ambiguous. The 110-km gravity wave is transient, having maximum amplitude early in the flight and decreasing in amplitude thereafter. Its scale is comparable to that of 100-to 150-km-diameter cells of low satellite brightness temperatures within the overall cyclone cloud shield; these cells have lifetimes of 4.5 to 6 hrs. These cells correspond to regions of enhanced convection, higher cloud altitude, and upwardly displaced potential temperature surfaces. The temporal and spatial distribution of meteorological variables associated with the 110-km gravity wave can be simulated by a slowly moving transient forcing at the anvil top having an amplitude of 400-600 m, a lifetime of 4.5-6 hrs, and a size comparable to the cells of low brightness temperature.
Document ID
19930057248
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Pfister, L.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Chan, K. R.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Bui, T. P.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Bowen, S.
(San Jose State Univ. CA, United States)
Legg, M.
(Synernet Fremont, CA, United States)
Gary, B.
(JPL Pasadena, CA, United States)
Kelly, K.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Proffitt, M.
(NOAA, Aeronomy Lab. Boulder, CO, United States)
Starr, W.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
May 20, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 98
Issue: D5
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
93A41245
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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