Tomographic reconstruction of atmospheric gravity wave parameters from airglow observations
Gravity waves (GWs) play an important role in the dynamics of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT). Therefore, global observations of GWs in the MLT region are of particular interest. The small scales of GWs, however, pose a major problem for the observation of GWs from space. We propose...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2017-11-01
|
Series: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
Online Access: | https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/10/4601/2017/amt-10-4601-2017.pdf |
id |
doaj-a5cb93321eb84549b271afc5843c07a1 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-a5cb93321eb84549b271afc5843c07a12020-11-25T00:35:48ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482017-11-01104601461210.5194/amt-10-4601-2017Tomographic reconstruction of atmospheric gravity wave parameters from airglow observationsR. Song0R. Song1M. Kaufmann2J. Ungermann3M. Ern4G. Liu5M. Riese6M. Riese7Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Stratosphere (IEK-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, GermanyInstitute for Atmospheric and Environmental Research, University of Wuppertal, 42119 Wuppertal, GermanyInstitute of Energy and Climate Research, Stratosphere (IEK-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, GermanyInstitute of Energy and Climate Research, Stratosphere (IEK-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, GermanyInstitute of Energy and Climate Research, Stratosphere (IEK-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, GermanyKey Laboratory of Digital Earth Sciences, Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Energy and Climate Research, Stratosphere (IEK-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, GermanyInstitute for Atmospheric and Environmental Research, University of Wuppertal, 42119 Wuppertal, GermanyGravity waves (GWs) play an important role in the dynamics of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT). Therefore, global observations of GWs in the MLT region are of particular interest. The small scales of GWs, however, pose a major problem for the observation of GWs from space. We propose a new observation strategy for GWs in the mesopause region by combining limb and sub-limb satellite-borne remote sensing measurements for improving the spatial resolution of temperatures that are retrieved from atmospheric soundings. In our study, we simulate satellite observations of the rotational structure of the O<sub>2</sub> A-band nightglow. A key element of the new method is the ability of the instrument or the satellite to operate in so-called <q>target mode</q>, i.e. to point at a particular point in the atmosphere and collect radiances at different viewing angles. These multi-angle measurements of a selected region allow for tomographic 2-D reconstruction of the atmospheric state, in particular of GW structures. The feasibility of this tomographic retrieval approach is assessed using simulated measurements. It shows that one major advantage of this observation strategy is that GWs can be observed on a much smaller scale than conventional observations. We derive a GW sensitivity function, and it is shown that <q>target mode</q> observations are able to capture GWs with horizontal wavelengths as short as ∼ 50 km for a large range of vertical wavelengths. This is far better than the horizontal wavelength limit of 100–200 km obtained from conventional limb sounding.https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/10/4601/2017/amt-10-4601-2017.pdf |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
R. Song R. Song M. Kaufmann J. Ungermann M. Ern G. Liu M. Riese M. Riese |
spellingShingle |
R. Song R. Song M. Kaufmann J. Ungermann M. Ern G. Liu M. Riese M. Riese Tomographic reconstruction of atmospheric gravity wave parameters from airglow observations Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
author_facet |
R. Song R. Song M. Kaufmann J. Ungermann M. Ern G. Liu M. Riese M. Riese |
author_sort |
R. Song |
title |
Tomographic reconstruction of atmospheric gravity wave parameters from airglow observations |
title_short |
Tomographic reconstruction of atmospheric gravity wave parameters from airglow observations |
title_full |
Tomographic reconstruction of atmospheric gravity wave parameters from airglow observations |
title_fullStr |
Tomographic reconstruction of atmospheric gravity wave parameters from airglow observations |
title_full_unstemmed |
Tomographic reconstruction of atmospheric gravity wave parameters from airglow observations |
title_sort |
tomographic reconstruction of atmospheric gravity wave parameters from airglow observations |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
series |
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
issn |
1867-1381 1867-8548 |
publishDate |
2017-11-01 |
description |
Gravity waves (GWs) play an important role in the dynamics of
the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT). Therefore, global observations of
GWs in the MLT region are of particular interest. The small scales of GWs,
however, pose a major problem for the observation of GWs from space. We
propose a new observation strategy for GWs in the mesopause region by
combining limb and sub-limb satellite-borne remote sensing measurements for
improving the spatial resolution of temperatures that are retrieved from
atmospheric soundings. In our study, we simulate satellite observations of
the rotational structure of the O<sub>2</sub> A-band nightglow. A key element of the
new method is the ability of the instrument or the satellite to operate in so-called <q>target mode</q>, i.e. to point at a particular point in the atmosphere
and collect radiances at different viewing angles. These multi-angle
measurements of a selected region allow for tomographic 2-D
reconstruction of the atmospheric state, in particular of GW
structures. The feasibility of this tomographic retrieval approach is
assessed using simulated measurements. It shows that one major advantage of
this observation strategy is that GWs can be observed on a much smaller scale
than conventional observations. We derive a GW sensitivity function, and it
is shown that <q>target mode</q> observations are able to capture GWs with
horizontal wavelengths as short as ∼ 50 km for a large range of
vertical wavelengths. This is far better than the horizontal wavelength limit
of 100–200 km obtained from conventional limb sounding. |
url |
https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/10/4601/2017/amt-10-4601-2017.pdf |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT rsong tomographicreconstructionofatmosphericgravitywaveparametersfromairglowobservations AT rsong tomographicreconstructionofatmosphericgravitywaveparametersfromairglowobservations AT mkaufmann tomographicreconstructionofatmosphericgravitywaveparametersfromairglowobservations AT jungermann tomographicreconstructionofatmosphericgravitywaveparametersfromairglowobservations AT mern tomographicreconstructionofatmosphericgravitywaveparametersfromairglowobservations AT gliu tomographicreconstructionofatmosphericgravitywaveparametersfromairglowobservations AT mriese tomographicreconstructionofatmosphericgravitywaveparametersfromairglowobservations AT mriese tomographicreconstructionofatmosphericgravitywaveparametersfromairglowobservations |
_version_ |
1725307556500340736 |