EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Fritts et al. 1997
Fritts, D.C., Garten, J.F., Riggin, D.M., Goldberg, R.A., Lehmacher, G.A., Schmidlin, F.J., McCarthy, S., Kudeki, E., Fawcett, C.D., Hitchman, M.H., Lieberman, R.S., Reid, I.M. and Vincent, R.A. (1997). Equatorial dynamics observed by rocket, radar, and satellite during the CADRE/MALTED campaign: 2. Mean and wave structures, coherence, and variability. Journal of Geophysical Research 102: doi: 10.1029/96JD03966. issn: 0148-0227.

We present an analysis of the wind and temperature measurements made by rocket, radar, and satellite instrumentation in the equatorial and subtropical middle atmosphere accompanying the MALTED/CADRE campaign conducted at Alcantara, Brazil during August 1994. Measured mean winds and temperatures extended from ~10 to 110 km, exhibited general consistency between instruments, and revealed an oscillatory nature of the mean zonal wind with altitude at equatorial latitudes. MF radar measurements of tidal structures showed these to exhibit variability on ~8- and 16-day periods, but to be largely uncorrelated in time. Two-day wave structures displayed the same periodicities, but were well correlated among sites at northern and equatorial latitudes. Rocket and radar measurements at smaller scales of motion revealed inertia-gravity waves having significant temporal coherence, quadrature correlations between components indicating clear directions of propagation, and momentum flux and mean wind correlations indicative of gravity wave filtering processes. Rocket estimates of diurnal tidal amplitudes suggest that the diurnal tide achieves convectively unstable amplitudes in the upper equatorial mesosphere. ¿ 1997 American Geophysical Union

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, General circulation, Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342), Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Waves and tides
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit