The observable effects of gravity waves on airglow emissions

doi:10.1016/0032-0633(90)90019-M

Planetary and Space Science

Volume 38, Issue 9, September 1990, Pages 1105-1119

https://doi.org/10.1016/0032-0633(90)90019-M Get rights and content

Abstract

The influence of gravity waves on airglow emissions is explored with a view to elucidating the observable effects of such waves. The results obtained are applicable to ground-based photometric observations, where the total line-of-sight emission, at an arbitrary zenith angle, is measured. Explicit relations are developed for the dependence of the magnitude and phase of the observable parameter η, the ratio of brightness fluctuations to temperature fluctuations. Both magnitude and phase depend on dynamical parameters (wavelength and period), the zenith angle at which observations are made, and a chemical parameter which is specific to the reaction chemistry. Methods of (i) distinguishing between evanescent and internal gravity wave modes, and (ii) determining the vertical wavelength and sense of vertical propagation for internal modes, are proposed. The former may be of considerable importance observationally, since the effects of evanescent and internal modes on airglow are quite different. The latter is a measurement that is typically difficult to make directly.

It is shown that, for an isothermal atmosphere, the dependence of η on the characteristics of the perturbing wave is partially separable from the dependence on the emission chemistry, making it possible to draw conclusions about the effects of gravity waves on airglow brightness and temperature that are independent of any specific emission mechanism, as well as conclusions that are independent of specific wave characteristics.

References (55)

E.B. Armstrong
The association of visible airglow features with a gravity wave
J. atmos. terr. Phys.
(1982)
I.M. Campbell et al.
Rate constants for O(³P) recombination and association with N(⁴S)
Chem. Phys. Lett.
(1973)
J. Clairemidi et al.
Bi-dimensional observation of waves near the mesopause at auroral latitudes
Planet. Space Sci.
(1985)
A. Ebel
Contributions of gravity waves to the momentum, heat and turbulent energy budget of the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere
J. atmos. terr. Phys.
(1984)
J.E. Frederick
Influence of gravity wave activity on lower thermospheric photochemistry and composition
Planet. Space Sci.
(1979)
C.O. Hines et al.
On the detection and utilization of gravity waves in airglow studies
Planet. Space Sci.
(1987)
G. Moreels et al.
Photographic evidence of waves around the 85 km level
Planet. Space Sci.
(1977)
I.M. Reid
Gravity wave motion in the upper middle atmosphere
J. atmos. terr. Phys.
(1986)
M.V. Shagaev
Fast variations of hydroxyl night airglow emission
J. atmos. terr. Phys.
(1974)
H. Takahashi et al.
Atmospheric wave propagations in the mesopause region observed by the OH (8,3) band, NaD, O₂A (8645 Å) band and OI 5577 Å emissions
Planet. Space Sci.
(1985)

I. Takeuchi et al.

Seasonal variations of the correlation among nightglow radiations and emission mechanism of OH nightglow emission

J. atmos. terr. Phys.

(1981)

M.J. Taylor et al.

Observations of gravity wave propagation in the OI (557.7 nm), Na (589.2 nm) and the near infrared OH emissions

Planet. Space Sci.

(1987)

E. Battaner et al.

Turbopause internal gravity waves, 557.7 nm airglow, and eddy diffusion coefficient

J. geophys. Res.

(1980)

P. Berthier

Étude spectrophotométrique de la luminescence nocturne des bandes des molécules OH et O₂ atmosphériques

Ann. Geophys.

(1956)

J.W. Chamberlain

Physics of the Aurora and Airglow

M. Chanin et al.

Lidar observation of gravity and tidal waves in the stratosphere and mesosphere

J. geophys. Res.

(1981)

J.J. Dudis et al.

Composition effects in thermospheric gravity waves

Geophys. Res. Lett.

(1976)

R.R. Garcia et al.

The effect of breaking gravity waves on the dynamics and chemical composition of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

J. geophys. Res.

(1985)

C.S. Gardner et al.

Density response of neutral atmospheric layers to gravity wave perturbations

J. geophys. Res.

(1985)

N.M. Gavrilov et al.

Study of internal gravity waves in the lower thermosphere from observations of the nocturnal sky airglow [OI] 5577 Å in Ashkhabad

Ann. Geophys.

(1982)

R. Hatfield et al.

On the effects of atmospheric gravity waves on profiles of H, O₃, and OH emission

J. geophys. Res.

(1981)

J.H. Hecht et al.

Observations of wave-driven fluctuations of OH nightglow emission from Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland

J. geophys. Res.

(1987)

M. Hersé et al.

Waves in the OH emissive layer : photogrammetry and topography

Appl. Opt.

(1980)

M.P. Hickey

Effects of eddy viscosity and thermal conduction and Coriolis force in the dynamics of gravity wave driven fluctuations in the OH nightglow

J. geophys. Res.

(1988)

M.P. Hickey

Wavelength dependence of eddy dissipation and Coriolis force in the dynamics of gravity wave driven fluctuations in the OH nightglow

J. geophys. Res.

(1988)

C.O. Hines

Internal atmospheric gravity waves at ionospheric heights

Can. J. Phys.

(1960)

C.O. Hines

Ionospheric movements and irregularities

Cited by (53)

Studies of atmospheric waves by ground-based observations of OH(3–1) emission and rotational temperature using PRL airglow InfraRed spectrograph (PAIRS)
2023, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
We present a grating based spectrograph, Physical Research laboratory (PRL) Airglow InfraRed Spectrograph (PAIRS) which provides rotationally resolved OH(3–1) band nightglow emissions in the 1.5–1.6 μm spectral region at a resolution of 0.001 μm @ 1.532 μm that enables estimation of corresponding OH rotational temperatures from Thaltej Campus, Ahmedabad (23.0° N, 72.6° E) in India. The data cadence of PAIRS is 100 s providing an opportunity to study small timescale oscillations present at the OH emission altitude. In a first case study we present a detailed characterization of terdiurnal, large- and small-timescale gravity wave (GW) induced oscillations applying Krassovsky's method to nocturnal variations of the OH(3–1) brightness and its rotational temperatures measured with PAIRS. The amplitudes, phases, Krassovsky parameters, and vertical wavelengths of the terdiurnal tide and GWs are calculated using a least square fitting and wavelet analysis techniques. We also demonstrate capabilities of PAIRS in estimating the characteristics of GWs with periodicities smaller than 30 min, which showed upward wave propagation. The PAIRS derived rotational temperatures for 28 nights of observations for the month of December 2020 show good correspondence with the temperatures obtained from SABER for the passes close to the observational station. PAIRS has been automated for carrying out observations in an unattended mode and data analysis schemes have been developed for the derivation of mesospheric temperatures. Thus, PAIRS provides an opportunity for the detailed investigation of tides and GWs, in general, and short timescale nocturnal MLT dynamics, in particular.
Imager observation of concentric mesospheric gravity waves over Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
2022, Advances in Space Research
Citation Excerpt :
All sky imaging of mesospheric gravity waves (GWs) using airglow emissions in the visible and near infra-red region wavelengths (say ∼750–950 nm) has revolutionized our understanding of morphology of both the large- and small-scale gravity wave structures and associated generation, propagation and dissipation mechanisms in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region of the atmosphere (Vargas et al., 2009; Bageston, 2009; Pautet et al., 2005; Swenson and Gardner, 1998a; Taylor et al., 1987). Radiance fluctuations associated with atmospheric gravity waves (in temperature and associated photochemical reactions) at different heights are easily detected at night times by employing appropriate narrow band optical interference filters in high-sensitive imaging cameras (Vargas et al., 2007; Liu and Swenson, 2003; Swenson and Gardner, 1998b; Tarasick and Hines, 1990). For example, OH emissions with centre wavelength of 840 nm, sodium (Na) emissions at 589 nm, OI emissions of 557 nm and 630 nm occurring at the altitudes of ∼85 km, ∼90 km, ∼97 km and ∼250 km respectively can be imaged to determine the atmospheric dynamics in these height regions.
Using the NARL airglow imager in the Indian subtropical station of Srinagar, Kashmir, India, we report the characteristics of the concentric deformed circular pattern of gravity waves detected at ∼85 km height. OH molecular emission intensities from the height of ∼85 km as observed by the imager in the wide band optical filter of centre wavelength of 840 nm show concentric deformed circular gravity waves drifting northwestward. Using Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) image at the centre wavelength of 8.1 µm, deep convective activity around the imager site in the lower atmosphere is recognized as the source mechanism of the observed concentric gravity waves in the mesosphere. The determined phase speed, direction and period of these concentric gravity waves (CGWs) is ∼47 m/s, 150° north of east and ∼10 min (intrinsic period ∼8 min) respectively. At heights of ∼97 km [OI (¹S)] and ∼250 km [OI (¹D)], these concentric gravity waves are sporadically visible depending on the possible vertical movement of airglow layer height. The dissipated portions of these concentric gravity waves get converted into turbulence at these heights. Using anelastic gravity wave dispersion relation, decreasing horizontal wavelength from the centre of concentric gravity waves is explained. This result is novel in the sense that it disagrees with most of the earlier interpretations of such observations.
Gravity wave activity in the middle atmosphere from SATI airglow observations at northern mid-latitude: Seasonal variation and comparison with tidal and planetary wave-like activity
2020, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
Citation Excerpt :
A large amount of observational data has been devoted to studying the activity of gravity waves (GW) in the lower atmosphere and in MLT region as a function of latitude and season. The major aim is to characterize the different scale sources of gravity wave generation and propagation conditions (Tarasick and Hines, 1990; Taylor et al., 1991, 1995; Nakamura et al., 1999; Hibbins et al., 2007; Mitchell and Beldon, 2009; Li et al., 2010; Wang and Alexander, 2010; Zhang et al., 2012; Kramer et al., 2016; to cite just a few). Airglow observations are a good tool for monitoring the atmospheric variability in the MLT at short and long temporal scales.
The study investigates the gravity waves activity detected in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) region (80–120 km) using airglow observations performed by the Spectral Airglow Temperature Imager (SATI) at the Sierra Nevada Observatory (SNO) (37.06^∘N, 3.38^∘W). In this analysis column emission rates of the OH Meinel (6–2) and O₂ Atmospheric (0–1) bands, as well as rotational temperatures derived from these emission rates are employed for the period of 1998–2015. The long time series allows the determination of gravity waves climatology at this site. The gravity wave activity content exhibits an annual variability with a maximum during winter and a faint increase in summer. It was found that gravity waves with periods of less than 3h are more prevalent than those with periods of 3–6h throughout the year, for both column emission rates and rotational temperatures. The gravity wave activity with periods of less than 3h is larger in summer, while gravity waves with period from 3 to 6 h have maximum activity around autumn-winter. The analysis showed that the gravity waves activity surpassed that of the semidiurnal tides, although was still smaller than the planetary wave activity, especially in summer when the planetary waves appear to dominate the dynamics of the MLT region. In general, wave activity is the main source of variability in both OH and O₂ airglow emissions with the planetary wave activity being the main driver of the O₂ emission variability. However, the rotational temperatures are more affected by seasonal variations, especially the OH rotational temperatures, accounting for more than the 40% of the overall observed variability.
Derivation of vertical wavelengths of gravity waves in the MLT-region from multispectral airglow observations
2018, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
Citation Excerpt :
On the one hand, it is more or less self-evident to utilize different airglow emissions, such as OH, which is supposed to be representative for 86–88 km, and O2 or OI, which represent altitudes of 94–96 km and 95–97 km. On the other hand, more sophisticated methods have been developed by Krassovsky (1972), Hines and Tarasick (1987), Tarasick and Hines (1990), Swenson and Gardner (1998), which retrieve information about the vertical wavelength of a gravity wave from just one emission. The latter methods take advantage of the fact that rotational temperatures derived from the vibrational transition lines are representative for a slightly different altitude than the emissions themselves and thus variations of airglow intensities and related temperatures often show a distinct phase shift in the presence of propagating waves.
We present the derivation of gravity wave vertical wavelengths from OH airglow observations of different vibrational transitions. It utilizes small phase shifts regularly observed between the OH(3-1) and OH(4-2) intensities in the spectra of the GRIPS (GRound-based Infrared P-branch Spectrometer) instruments, which record the OH airglow emissions in the wavelength range from 1.5  μm to 1.6  μm simultaneously. These phase shifts are interpreted as being due to gravity waves passing through the OH airglow layer and affecting individual vibrational transitions at slightly different times due to small differences in their emission heights.
The results are compared with co-located observations of the Na-Lidar measurements acquired between 2010 and 2014 at the Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmosphere Research (ALOMAR, 69.28° N, 16.01° E), Norway. This comparison shows best agreement if the mean height difference of the OH(3-1) and OH(4-2) emission is assumed to be 540 m (1σ = 160 m).
The results are also compared with co-located observations of the OH(6-2)- and O₂b(0-1)-transitions by means of spectrometer observations (TANGOO instrument, Tilting-filter spectrometer for Atmospheric Nocturnal Ground-based Oxygen & hydrOxyl emission measurements) performed from 2013 until 2016 at Oberpfaffenhofen (48.08° N, 11.27° E), Germany. For approximately 40% of all wave events observed with GRIPS in the period range from 0.25 h to 17 h, a quantitative estimate of the phase relationship between the OH(3-1) and OH(4-2) intensities can be retrieved from the spectra allowing derivation of vertical wavelengths. The retrieval performs best for wave periods below two hours (80% success rate) and worse for periods above ten hours (successful in less than 10% of the cases). The average wavelength determined from 102 events amounts to 22.9 km (1σ: 9.0 km). The corresponding mean wavelength determined from the TANGOO observations amounts to 22.6 km ± 10.5 km, if a mean separation of 6.5 km is assumed for the height difference between the OH(6-2) and O2b(0-1)-transitions.
Statistical properties of nonlinear wave signatures in OH and O<inf>2</inf> airglow brightness data observed at lower midlatitudes
2010, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
Citation Excerpt :
It is convenient to extend the term “solitary wave” to include such temporally changing phenomena, and not limit it to structures of constant shape. According to some theories that describe the reaction of airglow layers to the passage of atmospheric waves (e.g., Tarasick and Hines, 1990; Swenson and Gardner, 1998; Liu and Swenson, 2003; for comparison with observations, see also Reisin and Scheer, 1996), any type of wave signature should also manifest itself as a temperature variation, for being similarly subject to dynamical forcing. However, as expressed by Krassovsky's ratio, relative (band integrated) airglow brightness variations can be expected to be greater than relative temperature variations, by factors between two and an order of magnitude (Reisin and Scheer, 1996, 2001), and therefore easier to detect.
Among 2187 nights of airglow observations of the OH(6-2) and O₂b(0-1) bands from Argentina (mainly from El Leoncito, 32°S 69°W), 132 show airglow brightness jumps (ABJs) of short duration (16 min median). ABJs are supposed to be related to mesospheric bores or similar nonlinear waves. Several occurrence patterns were identified, which a successful explanation must take into account. ABJs occur preferably in the OH layer at 87 km, and are less likely in the O₂ layer at 95 km, maybe because ducts prefer lower altitudes. The seasonal distribution of nights when ABJs are observed only in the OH layer clearly shows a winter maximum centered around solstice, and equinox minima. In contrast, the seasonal distribution of ABJ nights in O₂ is flat. Most ABJs simultaneously present in OH and O₂ show anticorrelated variation between both layers. ABJ nights tend to occur in clusters lasting several days, which probably reflects duct lifetime.
Gravity waves in Fabry-Perot measurements made at Mt. John (44°S, 170°E), New Zealand
2002, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
Observations of winds in mesospheric airglow layers have been made at Mt. John (44°S,170°E), New Zealand for some years. We present a modelling study of airglow emissions which shows that the properties of wind detection based on airglow emission means that high-frequency gravity waves are effectively filtered from the wind spectrum observed. This filtering means that any waves with periods of the order of hours should be detectable in the record (as they will not be hidden in the noise of the higher-frequency waves ubiquitous at these heights). One example of such a wave is shown. As part of the analysis, we show that because the airglow layers differ in width, some waves might be observed in only one airglow layer, even when present in both.

View all citing articles on Scopus

^∗: Present address: ARQX, Atmospheric Environment Service, 4905 Dufferin Street, North York, Ontario M3H 5T4.

^†: Present address: Arecibo Observatory, Box 995, Arecibo, Puerto Rico 00613, U.S.A.

View full text

The observable effects of gravity waves on airglow emissions

Abstract

J. atmos. terr. Phys.

Chem. Phys. Lett.

Planet. Space Sci.

J. atmos. terr. Phys.

Planet. Space Sci.

Planet. Space Sci.

Planet. Space Sci.

J. atmos. terr. Phys.

J. atmos. terr. Phys.

Planet. Space Sci.

J. atmos. terr. Phys.

Planet. Space Sci.

Turbopause internal gravity waves, 557.7 nm airglow, and eddy diffusion coefficient

J. geophys. Res.

Étude spectrophotométrique de la luminescence nocturne des bandes des molécules OH et O2 atmosphériques

Ann. Geophys.

Physics of the Aurora and Airglow

Lidar observation of gravity and tidal waves in the stratosphere and mesosphere

J. geophys. Res.

Composition effects in thermospheric gravity waves

Geophys. Res. Lett.

The effect of breaking gravity waves on the dynamics and chemical composition of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

J. geophys. Res.

Density response of neutral atmospheric layers to gravity wave perturbations

J. geophys. Res.

Study of internal gravity waves in the lower thermosphere from observations of the nocturnal sky airglow [OI] 5577 Å in Ashkhabad

Ann. Geophys.

On the effects of atmospheric gravity waves on profiles of H, O3, and OH emission

J. geophys. Res.

Observations of wave-driven fluctuations of OH nightglow emission from Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland

J. geophys. Res.

Waves in the OH emissive layer : photogrammetry and topography

Appl. Opt.

Effects of eddy viscosity and thermal conduction and Coriolis force in the dynamics of gravity wave driven fluctuations in the OH nightglow

J. geophys. Res.

Wavelength dependence of eddy dissipation and Coriolis force in the dynamics of gravity wave driven fluctuations in the OH nightglow

J. geophys. Res.

Internal atmospheric gravity waves at ionospheric heights

Can. J. Phys.

Ionospheric movements and irregularities

Étude spectrophotométrique de la luminescence nocturne des bandes des molécules OH et O₂ atmosphériques

On the effects of atmospheric gravity waves on profiles of H, O₃, and OH emission