Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Model Study of Waves Generated by Convection with Direct Validation via Satellite

Alison W. Grimsdell NorthWest Research Associates, Colorado Research Associates Division, Boulder, Colorado

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M. Joan Alexander NorthWest Research Associates, Colorado Research Associates Division, Boulder, Colorado

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Peter T. May Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, CSIRO/Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Lars Hoffmann Forschungszentrum Jülich, ICG-1, Jülich, Germany

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Print Publication:
01 May 2010
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2009JAS3197.1
Page(s):
1617–1631
Restricted access

Abstract

Atmospheric gravity waves have a major effect on atmospheric circulation, structure, and stability on a global scale. Gravity waves can be generated by convection, but in many cases it is difficult to link convection directly to a specific wave event. In this research, the authors examine an event on 12 January 2003 when convective waves were clearly generated by a period of extremely intense rainfall in the region of Darwin, Australia, during the early morning. The waves were observed by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on board the Aqua satellite, and a dry version of a nonlinear, three-dimensional mesoscale cloud-resolving model is used to generate a comparable wave field. The model is forced by a spatially and temporally varying heating field obtained from a scanning radar located north of Darwin at Gunn Point. With typical cloud-resolving model studies it is generally not possible to compare the model results feature-for-feature with observations since although the model precipitation and small-scale heating may be similar to observations, they will occur at different locations and times. In this case the comparison is possible since the model is forced by the observed heating pattern. It is shown that the model output wave pattern corresponds well to the wave pattern observed by the AIRS instrument at the time of the AIRS overpass.

Corresponding author address: Alison Grimsdell, NWRA, CoRA Division, 3380 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, CO 80301. Email: grimsdell@cora.nwra.com

Abstract

Atmospheric gravity waves have a major effect on atmospheric circulation, structure, and stability on a global scale. Gravity waves can be generated by convection, but in many cases it is difficult to link convection directly to a specific wave event. In this research, the authors examine an event on 12 January 2003 when convective waves were clearly generated by a period of extremely intense rainfall in the region of Darwin, Australia, during the early morning. The waves were observed by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on board the Aqua satellite, and a dry version of a nonlinear, three-dimensional mesoscale cloud-resolving model is used to generate a comparable wave field. The model is forced by a spatially and temporally varying heating field obtained from a scanning radar located north of Darwin at Gunn Point. With typical cloud-resolving model studies it is generally not possible to compare the model results feature-for-feature with observations since although the model precipitation and small-scale heating may be similar to observations, they will occur at different locations and times. In this case the comparison is possible since the model is forced by the observed heating pattern. It is shown that the model output wave pattern corresponds well to the wave pattern observed by the AIRS instrument at the time of the AIRS overpass.

Corresponding author address: Alison Grimsdell, NWRA, CoRA Division, 3380 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, CO 80301. Email: grimsdell@cora.nwra.com

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