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Spatiotemporal spectrum and momentum flux of the stratospheric gravity waves generated by a typhoon

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Abstract

The simulation results of Typhoon Matsa (2005) by using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model show that pronounced stratospheric gravity waves (GWs) are generated in the vicinity of the typhoon. Using the model output, we investigate the spatial structures and the temporal variations of the GWs through a three dimensional (3-d) spectral analysis, i.e. the spectrum with respect to two horizontal wavenumbers and frequency. We further derive the momentum flux carried by the GWs. Spectral investigation results show that the power spectral density (PSD) of the GWs exhibits a single-peaked spectrum, which consists primarily of a distinct spectrum at horizontal wavelength of ∼1000 km, time period of 12–18 h, and vertical wavelength of 7–9 km. This spectrum is different from the spectra of GWs generated by deep convections disclosed by the previous researches. Both the PSD and momentum flux spectrum are prominent in positive k h portion, which is consistent with the fact that the GWs propagate in the upstream of mean flow. Large momentum flux is found to be associated with the GWs, and the net zonal momentum flux is 0.7845×10−3 Pa at 20 km height, which can account for ∼26% of the momentum flux that is required in driving the QBO phenomenon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Middle Atmosphere and Global Environment Observation, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Dan Chen, ZeYu Chen & DaRen Lü

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Dan Chen

  3. College of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Dan Chen

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  1. Dan Chen
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  2. ZeYu Chen
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  3. DaRen Lü
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Correspondence to ZeYu Chen.

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Chen, D., Chen, Z. & Lü, D. Spatiotemporal spectrum and momentum flux of the stratospheric gravity waves generated by a typhoon. Sci. China Earth Sci. 56, 54–62 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4502-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4502-4

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