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High‐Frequency Gravity Waves and Kelvin‐Helmholtz Billows in the Tropical UTLS, as Seen From Radar Observations of Vertical Wind

The present study analyzes novel observations of vertical wind (w) $(w)$ in the tropical upper troposphere‐lower stratosphere obtained from a radar wind profiler in Cochin, India. Between December 2022 and… Click to show full abstract

The present study analyzes novel observations of vertical wind (w) $(w)$ in the tropical upper troposphere‐lower stratosphere obtained from a radar wind profiler in Cochin, India. Between December 2022 and April 2023, 63 consecutive 4 hr curtains of w $w$ were measured with a vertical spacing of 180 m and a sampling time step of 44 s, thus resolving almost the whole spectrum of vertical motions. Spectra of w $w$ strongly vary with altitude. They are generally flat up to the local Brunt‐Väisälä frequency (BVF), but sometimes exhibit a peak of w $w$ variance closer to BVF, a feature which may be attributed to trapped gravity waves. At other times and locations, the w $w$ profiles reveal Kelvin‐Helmholtz billows. Finally, the variability of w $w$ variance over the 4 month campaign period is investigated. Using brightness temperature from geostationary satellites as a convective proxy, it is found that w $w$ variance is highly correlated with fluctuations in convective activity.

Keywords: kelvin helmholtz; vertical wind; radar; gravity waves; helmholtz billows; observations vertical

Journal Title: Geophysical Research Letters
Year Published: 2024

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