QBO modulation of the mesopause gravity wave momentum flux over Tierra del Fuego

25Citations
Citations of this article
10Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

The interannual variability of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) gravity wave momentum flux over southern midlatitudes (53.7°S) has been studied using more than 7 years of meteor radar observations at Río Grande, Argentina. A modulation, with periods similar to that of the equatorial stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO), is observed in the vertical flux of zonal as well as meridional momentum. The QBO signal is largest in the zonal component during summer and is in phase with the stratospheric QBO at 50 hPa (∼21 km). The relation between the stratospheric QBO and the QBO modulation in the MLT gravity wave forcing (derived from the divergence of the momentum flux) was found to be consistent with that expected from the Holton-Tan effect coupled to the interhemispheric coupling mechanism. These results provide the first observational support for the existence of the midlatitude gravity wave forcing anomalies as hypothesized in the interhemispheric coupling mechanism.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

De Wit, R. J., Janches, D., Fritts, D. C., & Hibbins, R. E. (2016). QBO modulation of the mesopause gravity wave momentum flux over Tierra del Fuego. Geophysical Research Letters, 43(8), 4049–4055. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068599

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free