A case study of gravity waves in noctilucent clouds

P. Dalin (1) , S. Kirkwood (1) , A. Moström (1) , K. Stebel (1) , P. Hoffmann (2) , W. Singer (2)

1 IRF - Swedish Institute of Space Physics [Kiruna]
2 AIP - Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics

We present a case study of a noctilucent cloud (NLC) display appearing on 10-11 August 2000 over Northern Sweden. Clear wave structures were visible in the clouds and time-lapse photography was used to derive the parameters characterising the gravity waves which could account for the observed NLC modulation. Using two nearby atmospheric radars, the Esrange MST Radar data and Andoya MF radar, we have identified gravity waves propagating upward from the upper stratosphere to NLC altitudes. The wave parameters derived from the radar measurements support the suggestion that gravity waves are responsible for the observed complex wave dynamics in the NLC.

Domaines: Océan, Atmosphère; Sciences de la Terre

P. Dalin, S. Kirkwood, A. Moström, K. Stebel, P. Hoffmann, et al.. A case study of gravity waves in noctilucent clouds. Annales Geophysicae, 2004, 22 (6), pp.1875-1884. ⟨hal-00317381⟩