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Mesoscale Simulations of Gravity Waves During the 2008-2009 Major Stratospheric Sudden WarmingA series of 24 h mesoscale simulations (of 10 km horizontal and 400 m vertical resolution) are performed to examine the characteristics and forcing of gravity waves (GWs) relative to planetary waves (PWs) during the 2008-2009 major stratospheric sudden wam1ing (SSW). Just prior to SSW occurrence, widespread westward propagating GWs are found along the vortex's edge and associated predominantly with major topographical features and strong near-surface winds. Momentum forcing due to GWs surpasses PW forcing in the upper stratosphere and tends to decelerate the polar westerly jet in excess of 30 m/s/d. With SSW onset, PWs dominate the momentum forcing, providing decelerative effects in excess of 50 m/s/d throughout the upper polar stratosphere. GWs related to topography become less widespread largely due to incipient wind reversal as the vortex starts to elongate. During the SSW maturation and early recovery, the polar vortex eventually splits and both wave signatures and forcing greatly subside. Nonetheless, during SSW, westward and eastward propagating GWs are found in the polar region and may be generated in situ by flow adjustment processes in the stratosphere or by secondary GW breaking. The simulated large-scale features agree well with those resolved in satellite observations and analysis products.
Document ID
20120002032
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Limpasuvan, Varavut
(Coastal Carolina Univ. Conway, SC, United States)
Alexander, M. Joan
(Northwest Research Associates, Inc. Boulder, CO, United States)
Orsolini, Yvan J.
(Norwegian Inst. for Air Research Kjeller, Norway)
Wu, Dong L.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Xue, Ming
(Oklahoma Univ. Norman, OK, United States)
Richter, Jadwiga H.
(National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, CO, United States)
Yamashita, Chihoko
(National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
September 3, 2011
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 116
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.5701.2011
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX07AR25G
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AGS-0958616
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-0646672
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AGS-0944506
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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