Mesospheric concentric gravity waves generated by multiple convective storms over the North American Great Plain

摘要: [1] We report on six continuous hours of OH airglow imager observations (at z ∼ 87 km) convectively generated gravity waves (GWs) near Fort Collins, Colorado, the evening 08 September 2005. These GWs appeared as nearly concentric rings, and had epicenters locations deep convection in three thunderstorms Nebraska South Dakota. Using GOES satellite weather radar observations, we show that closely follow thunderstorms. background wind from a nearby radar, intrinsic wave parameters vertical wavelengths are calculated. The temperature perturbations estimated to be T′/T¯ 1–3% for with horizontal λh∼ 20–40 km phase speeds ∼40–60 m/s. convective cluster decreased time 30 15 km. We employ plume ray-trace models simulate GW-induced intensity plumes, clusters complexes. find results using model (radiosonde/TIME-GCM) agree well late-time when images dominated by southwestward, short-wavelength, high-frequency GWs. propagate against wind, haveλh 30–40 periods τ 20–30 min. enhanced because λz increased, velocity w′ (because were their reflection levels). also these short-wavelength created ∼5 h earlier an extremely energetic, Dakota, thereby showing small-scale, directly link troposphere mesopause region.