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Randel & Wu 2005
Randel, W.J. and Wu, F. (2005). Kelvin wave variability near the equatorial tropopause observed in GPS radio occultation measurements. Journal of Geophysical Research 110: doi: 10.1029/2004JD005006. issn: 0148-0227.

Temperature fields in the equatorial upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, derived from GPS radio occultation measurements for 2001--2002, show evidence for planetary-scale Kelvin waves. These waves have a characteristic eastward phase tilt with height and typical vertical wavelengths of ~4--8 km. The Kelvin waves exhibit coherent vertical structure over ~12--25 km, with maximum amplitudes near the tropical tropopause (~17 km). The waves are often quasi-stationary near the tropopause but exhibit regular eastward propagation in the lower stratosphere (with periods near 20 days). The quasi-stationary waves modulate the climatological cold tropopause over Indonesia. The transient lower stratospheric waves show enhanced amplitudes coincident with the descending westerly shear phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). Correlations with outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR) data show that global temperature patterns over ~12--17 km (with characteristic Kelvin wave structure) vary coherently with transient deep convection over Indonesia.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Atmospheric Processes, Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342), Atmospheric Processes, Stratosphere/troposphere interactions, Atmospheric Processes, Tropical meteorology, Atmospheric Processes, Acoustic-gravity waves, Atmospheric Processes, Tides and planetary waves, convection, Kelvin waves, tropical tropopause
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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