A study of the dynamical characteristics of inertia–gravity waves in the Antarctic mesosphere combining the PANSY radar and a non-hydrostatic general circulation model

• Published in: Atmospheric chemistry and physics Vol. 19; no. 5; pp. 3395 - 3415
• Main Authors: Shibuya, Ryosuke, Sato, Kaoru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Katlenburg-Lindau Copernicus GmbH 18-03-2019; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Analysis; Comparative analysis; Computer simulation; Data; Data processing; Fluxes; General circulation models; Gravitational waves; Gravity wave propagation; Gravity waves; Gravity waves (Meteorology); Height; Inertia; Inertia gravity waves; Initial conditions; Latitude; Meridional wind; Mesosphere; Middle atmosphere; Momentum; NICAM; Orographic gravity waves; Radar; Radar observation; Wave propagation; Wavelengths; Wind; Wind fields; Wind fluctuations
• ISSN: 1680-7324; 1680-7316; 1680-7324
• DOI: 10.5194/acp-19-3395-2019

This study aims to examine the dynamical characteristics of gravity waves with relatively low frequency in the Antarctic mesosphere via the first long-term simulation using a high-top high-resolution non-hydrostatic general circulation model (NICAM). Successive runs lasting 7 days are performed using initial conditions from the MERRA reanalysis data with an overlap of 2 days between consecutive runs in the period from April to August in 2016. The data for the analyses were compiled from the last 5 days of each run. The simulated wind fields were closely compared to the MERRA reanalysis data and to the observational data collected by a complete PANSY (Program of the Antarctic Syowa MST/IS radar) radar system installed at Syowa Station (39.6.sup.∘  E, 69.0.sup.∘  S). It is shown that the NICAM mesospheric wind fields are realistic, even though the amplitudes of the wind disturbances appear to be larger than those from the radar observations.