A new technique for evaluating mesospheric momentum balance utilizing radars and satellite data

A new method for evaluating momentum balance in the mesosphere using radar and satellite data is presented. This method is applied to radar wind data from two medium frequency installations (near Adelaide, Australia and Christchurch, New Zealand) and satellite temperature data from the Improved Stra...

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Main Authors: Frame, D, Lawrence, B, Fraser, G, Vincent, R, Dudhia, A
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2000
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author Frame, D
Lawrence, B
Fraser, G
Vincent, R
Dudhia, A
author_facet Frame, D
Lawrence, B
Fraser, G
Vincent, R
Dudhia, A
author_sort Frame, D
collection OXFORD
description A new method for evaluating momentum balance in the mesosphere using radar and satellite data is presented. This method is applied to radar wind data from two medium frequency installations (near Adelaide, Australia and Christchurch, New Zealand) and satellite temperature data from the Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder (ISAMS). Because of limitations in data availability and vertical extent, the technique can only be applied to evaluate the momentum balance at 80 km above the radar sites for May 1992. The technique allows the calculation of the residual terms in the momentum balance which are usually attributed to the effects of breaking gravity waves. Although the results are inconclusive above Adelaide, this method produces values of zonal and meridional residual accelerations above Christchurch which are consistent with expectation. In both locations it is apparent that geostrophic balance is a poor approximation of reality. (This result is not dependent on a mismatch between the radar and satellite derived winds, but rather is inherent in the satellite data alone.) Despite significant caveats about data quality the technique appears robust and could be of use with data from future instruments.
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spelling oxford-uuid:876248ab-6b73-40ca-a31f-3c828687380e2022-03-26T22:10:22ZA new technique for evaluating mesospheric momentum balance utilizing radars and satellite dataJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:876248ab-6b73-40ca-a31f-3c828687380eEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2000Frame, DLawrence, BFraser, GVincent, RDudhia, AA new method for evaluating momentum balance in the mesosphere using radar and satellite data is presented. This method is applied to radar wind data from two medium frequency installations (near Adelaide, Australia and Christchurch, New Zealand) and satellite temperature data from the Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder (ISAMS). Because of limitations in data availability and vertical extent, the technique can only be applied to evaluate the momentum balance at 80 km above the radar sites for May 1992. The technique allows the calculation of the residual terms in the momentum balance which are usually attributed to the effects of breaking gravity waves. Although the results are inconclusive above Adelaide, this method produces values of zonal and meridional residual accelerations above Christchurch which are consistent with expectation. In both locations it is apparent that geostrophic balance is a poor approximation of reality. (This result is not dependent on a mismatch between the radar and satellite derived winds, but rather is inherent in the satellite data alone.) Despite significant caveats about data quality the technique appears robust and could be of use with data from future instruments.
spellingShingle Frame, D
Lawrence, B
Fraser, G
Vincent, R
Dudhia, A
A new technique for evaluating mesospheric momentum balance utilizing radars and satellite data
title A new technique for evaluating mesospheric momentum balance utilizing radars and satellite data
title_full A new technique for evaluating mesospheric momentum balance utilizing radars and satellite data
title_fullStr A new technique for evaluating mesospheric momentum balance utilizing radars and satellite data
title_full_unstemmed A new technique for evaluating mesospheric momentum balance utilizing radars and satellite data
title_short A new technique for evaluating mesospheric momentum balance utilizing radars and satellite data
title_sort new technique for evaluating mesospheric momentum balance utilizing radars and satellite data
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