Directional Filtering Due to Mesospheric Wind Shear on the Propagation of Acoustic-gravity Waves

Gravity waves with periods close to the Brunt-V?is?l? period of the upper troposphere are often observed at mesopause altitudes as short period, quasi-monochromatic waves. The assumption that these short period waves originate in the troposphere may be problematic because their upward propagation to the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region could be significantly impeded due to an extended region of strong evanescence above the stratopause. To reconcile this apparent paradox, an alternative explanation is proposed in this paper. The inclusion of mean winds and their vertical shears is sufficient to allow certain short period waves to remain internal above the stratopause and to propagate efficiently to higher altitudes. A time-dependent numerical model is used to demonstrate the feasibility of this and to determine the circumstances under which the mesospheric wind shears play a role in the removal and directional filtering of short period gravity waves. Finally this paper concludes that the combination of the height-dependent mean winds and the mean temperature structure probably explains the existence of short period, quasi-monochromatic structures observed in airglow images of mesopause region.