Gravity Wave Activity During the 2024 Sudden Stratospheric Warmings Observed by Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE)

Abstract The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) instrument, launched in November 2023, provides direct observation of small‐scale (30–300 km) gravity waves (GWs) in the mesosphere on a global scale. This work examined changes in GW activity observ...

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Main Authors: Jiarong Zhang, Yucheng Zhao, Pierre‐Dominique Pautet, Ludger Scherliess, Michael J. Taylor, Hanli Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114187
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author Jiarong Zhang
Yucheng Zhao
Pierre‐Dominique Pautet
Ludger Scherliess
Michael J. Taylor
Hanli Liu
author_facet Jiarong Zhang
Yucheng Zhao
Pierre‐Dominique Pautet
Ludger Scherliess
Michael J. Taylor
Hanli Liu
author_sort Jiarong Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) instrument, launched in November 2023, provides direct observation of small‐scale (30–300 km) gravity waves (GWs) in the mesosphere on a global scale. This work examined changes in GW activity observed by AWE during two major Sudden Stratospheric Warmings (SSWs) in the 2023 and 2024 winter season. Northern Hemisphere (NH) midlatitude GW activity during these events shared similarities. Variations in mesospheric GW activity showed an evident correlation with the magnitude of zonal wind in the upper stratosphere. NH midlatitude GW activity at ∼87 km was reduced following the onset of SSWs, likely caused by wind filtering and wave saturation. The upward propagation of GWs was suppressed when the zonal wind reversed from eastward to westward in the upper stratosphere. In regions where the zonal wind weakened but remained eastward, the weakened GWs could be due to their refraction to shorter vertical wavelengths.
format Article
id doaj-art-da4ec7772ae848a2a7d704c476a3d244
institution OA Journals
issn 0094-8276
1944-8007
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-da4ec7772ae848a2a7d704c476a3d2442025-08-20T01:51:50ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-04-01527n/an/a10.1029/2024GL114187Gravity Wave Activity During the 2024 Sudden Stratospheric Warmings Observed by Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE)Jiarong Zhang0Yucheng Zhao1Pierre‐Dominique Pautet2Ludger Scherliess3Michael J. Taylor4Hanli Liu5Department of Physics Utah State University Logan UT USADepartment of Physics Utah State University Logan UT USADepartment of Physics Utah State University Logan UT USADepartment of Physics Utah State University Logan UT USADepartment of Physics Utah State University Logan UT USAHigh Altitude Observatory NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder CO USAAbstract The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) instrument, launched in November 2023, provides direct observation of small‐scale (30–300 km) gravity waves (GWs) in the mesosphere on a global scale. This work examined changes in GW activity observed by AWE during two major Sudden Stratospheric Warmings (SSWs) in the 2023 and 2024 winter season. Northern Hemisphere (NH) midlatitude GW activity during these events shared similarities. Variations in mesospheric GW activity showed an evident correlation with the magnitude of zonal wind in the upper stratosphere. NH midlatitude GW activity at ∼87 km was reduced following the onset of SSWs, likely caused by wind filtering and wave saturation. The upward propagation of GWs was suppressed when the zonal wind reversed from eastward to westward in the upper stratosphere. In regions where the zonal wind weakened but remained eastward, the weakened GWs could be due to their refraction to shorter vertical wavelengths.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114187small‐scale gravity wavesgravity waves in mesosphereatmospheric waves experiment (AWE)sudden stratospheric warmingwind filteringairglow
spellingShingle Jiarong Zhang
Yucheng Zhao
Pierre‐Dominique Pautet
Ludger Scherliess
Michael J. Taylor
Hanli Liu
Gravity Wave Activity During the 2024 Sudden Stratospheric Warmings Observed by Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE)
Geophysical Research Letters
small‐scale gravity waves
gravity waves in mesosphere
atmospheric waves experiment (AWE)
sudden stratospheric warming
wind filtering
airglow
title Gravity Wave Activity During the 2024 Sudden Stratospheric Warmings Observed by Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE)
title_full Gravity Wave Activity During the 2024 Sudden Stratospheric Warmings Observed by Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE)
title_fullStr Gravity Wave Activity During the 2024 Sudden Stratospheric Warmings Observed by Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE)
title_full_unstemmed Gravity Wave Activity During the 2024 Sudden Stratospheric Warmings Observed by Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE)
title_short Gravity Wave Activity During the 2024 Sudden Stratospheric Warmings Observed by Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE)
title_sort gravity wave activity during the 2024 sudden stratospheric warmings observed by atmospheric waves experiment awe
topic small‐scale gravity waves
gravity waves in mesosphere
atmospheric waves experiment (AWE)
sudden stratospheric warming
wind filtering
airglow
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114187
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AT pierredominiquepautet gravitywaveactivityduringthe2024suddenstratosphericwarmingsobservedbyatmosphericwavesexperimentawe
AT ludgerscherliess gravitywaveactivityduringthe2024suddenstratosphericwarmingsobservedbyatmosphericwavesexperimentawe
AT michaeljtaylor gravitywaveactivityduringthe2024suddenstratosphericwarmingsobservedbyatmosphericwavesexperimentawe
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