VHF radar observation of wave instability and turbulence in the mesosphere |
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Authors: | J Klostermeyer R Rüster |
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Institution: | Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie, 3411 Katlenburg-Lindau, FRG |
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Abstract: | At mesospheric heights, VHF radar measurements reveal strong signal power bursts which have the same period as simultaneously observed short-period velocity oscillations. Both the power bursts and the velocity oscillations occur in layers of maximum vertical wind shear generated by tidal or long-period gravity waves with apparent vertical wavelengths of the order of 10 km. A comparison with similar power bursts measured in the troposphere during a jet stream passage leads to the conclusion that the short-period velocity oscillations are due to a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. This instability in turn generates superadiabatic lapse rates so that strong turbulence can occur which produces the observed signal power bursts. |
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