Abstract
GPS radio occultation temperature profiles retrieved from SAC-C and CHAMP exhibit a significant wave activity in the troposphere and lower stratosphere at midlatitudes (30°S to 40°S) above the Andes Range. Large amplitude structures, with long vertical wavelength, have been repeatedly reported in this region, as detected from other experimental devices and attributed to mountain waves. The possibility to associate the observed enhancements in wave activity to mountain forcing, or instead, to other significant sources in the region considered is discussed. The generation in the vicinity to a permanent jet situated above the mountains of inertio gravity waves by geostrophic adjustment, with longer horizontal and perhaps shorter vertical wavelengths than those expected from mountain waves, seems to be the main source. These waves could be more easily detected from GPS profiles than mountain waves. As it is known, inertio gravity waves are the means by which mass and momentum are redistributed so as to ultimately achieve geostrophic balance from an initially unbalanced state.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Baines PG (1995) Topographic effects in stratified fluids. Cambridge University Press
Blumen W (1972) Geostrophic adjustment. Rev Geophys 10(2):485–528
de la Torre A, Alexander P (1995) The interpretation of wavelengths and periods as measured from atmospheric balloons. J Appl Met 34(12):2747–2754
de la Torre A, Tsuda T, Hajj G, Wickert J (2004) A global distribution of the stratospheric gravity wave activity from GPS occultation profiles with SAC-C and CHAMP. J Met Soc Japan 82(1B):407–417
de la Torre A, Tsuda T, Hocke K, Giraldez A (2004) Stratospheric gravity wave fluctuations and sporadic E at mid-latitudes with focus on possible effect of the Andes. In: Kirchengast G, Foelsche U, Steiner AK (eds) Occultations for Probing Atmosphere and Climate. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 353–364
de la Torre A, Vincent D, Tailleaux R, Teitelbaum H (2004) A Deep convection event above the Tunuyn Valley near the Andes Mountains. Mon Weather Rev 132(9):2259–2268
Eckermann SD, Preusse P (1999) Global measurements of stratospheric mountain waves from space. Science 286(5444):1534–1537
Fritts DC, Alexander MJ (2003) Gravity wave dynamics and effects in the middle atmosphere. Rev Geophys 41(1):1003, doi:10.1029/2001RG000106
Hajj GA et al. (2004) CHAMP and SAC-C atmospheric occultation results and intercomparisons. J Geophys Res 109:D06109, doi:10.1029/2003JD003909
Hocke K, Tsuda T, de la Torre A (2002) A study of stratospheric GW fluctuations and sporadic E at midlatitudes with focus on possible orographic effect of Andes. J Geophys Res 107(D20):4428
Jiang JH, Wu DL, Eckerman SD (2002) Upper atmosphere research satellite (UARS) MLS observation of mountain waves over the Andes. J Geophys Res 107(D20):8273, doi:10.1029/2002JD002091
Kirchengast G (2004) Occultations for probing atmosphere and climate: Setting the scene. In: Kirchengast G, Foelsche U, Steiner AK (eds) Occultations for Probing Atmosphere and Climate. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1–8
Kursinski ER et al. (1997) Observing Earth’s atmosphere with radio occultation measurement using the Global Positioning System. J Geophys Res 102(D19):23429–23465
Lalas DP, Einaudi F (1976) On the characteristics of gravity waves generated by atmospheric shear layers. J Atmos Sci 33(7):1248–1259
McLandress C, Alexander MJ, Wu DL (2000) Microwave Limb Sounder observations of gravity waves in the stratosphere: A climatology and interpretation. J Geophys Res 105(D9):11947–11967
Preusse PA et al. (2002) Space-based measurements of stratospheric mountain waves by CRISTA 1. Sensitivity, analysis method, and a case study. J Geophys Res 107(D23):8178, doi:10.1029/2001JD000699
Uccellini LW, Koch SE (1987) The synoptic settings and possible energy sources for mesoscale wave disturbances. Mon Weather Rev 115(3):721–729
Whiteway JA, Duck TJ (1999) Enhanced arctic stratospheric gravity wave activity above a tropospheric jet. Geophys Res Lett 26(16):2453–2456
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
de la Torre, A., Alexander, P., Menéndez, C.G. (2006). Are we Observing Mountain Waves Above the Andes Range from GPS Occultation Profiles?. In: Foelsche, U., Kirchengast, G., Steiner, A. (eds) Atmosphere and Climate. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-34121-8_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-34121-8_20
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-34116-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-34121-5
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)