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Spatial and Time Structure of a Gravity Wave in Horizontal Atmosphere of Heterogeneous Stratification

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Abstract

By the use of the WKBJ method combined with the characteristic line method, the asymptotic solution of a gravity wave envelope in the atmosphere of horizontal heterogeneous stratification and time-varying stratification is obtained. The solution shows that not only the variation of amplitude of the gravity wave but also the variation of wavelength and the width of the envelope are affected by the horizontal heterogeneity. As the wave envelope moves from a region, of strong stratification to a weak one, the horizontal wavelength will become shorter, the width of the envelope will narrow and its amplitude will increase. The variation of stratification with time cannot lead to the variation of wavelength and envelope width, but the amplitude of the wave envelope will increase while the amplitude of the wave decreases in time.

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Correspondence to Lifeng Zhang.

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Zhang, L., Wang, X. & Zhang, M. Spatial and Time Structure of a Gravity Wave in Horizontal Atmosphere of Heterogeneous Stratification. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 20, 29–36 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03342047

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03342047

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