STRATOSPHERIC LONG WAVES: COMPARISON OF THERMAL STRUCTURE IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERES.

Abstract

With the aim of comparing planetary-wave behavior in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the authors have examined stratospheric temperature/thickness data for 1971-72 using Nimbus 4 Selective Chopper Radiometer (SCR) data, National Meteorological Center (NMC) gridded data, and Eole constant-level balloon data. Properties of planetary waves 1 and 2 derived from the SCR and NMC data are shown to agree well. Large-amplitude oscillations with energy in the 20-30 day period range and eastward propagating wave 2 in the Southern hemisphere have been noted previously and are prominent in these data. Strong vertical coherence in wave phase at all levels between 200 mb and the upper stratosphere is observed.