Stokes diffusion by atmospheric internal gravity waves

Abstract

We have calculated trajectories for an ensemble of parcels moving under the influence of a spectrum of gravity waves and have found vertical diffusion coefficients inferred from the dispersion of parcels on the order of 102m s-2, which is comparable to the values usually attributed to turbulence. If a constituent is distributed as a function of potential temperature, the dispersion due to conservative waves is not apt to accomplish a significant vertical transport. However, if the constituent has a significant gradient on wave-perturbed potential temperature surfaces, this dispersion might be an important cause of vertical transport in the mesosphere. -from Authors