An Introduction to Atmospheric Gravity Waves, Volume 102

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Preface

Fundamentals

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Some Wave Mechanics

1.3 The Buoyant Force

1.4 The Boussinesq Approximation

Problems

The Linear Theory

2.1 Introduction

2.2 The Taylor– Goldstein Equation

2.3 A Simple Solution

2.4 The WKB or “ Slowly Varying” Method

2.5 Energetics

Problems

Mountain Waves

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Uniform Flow Over a Surface Corrugation

3.3 The Two-Dimensional Mountain

3.4 The Three-Dimensional Mountain

3.5 Nonorographic Gravity Waves

Problems

Ducted Gravity Waves

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Wave Reflection and Refraction at an Elevated Layer

4.3 Wave Trapping, Energy Flux, and Wave Resonance

4.4 Reflection at the Ground Surface

4.5 Wave Ducts

Problems

Gravity Wave Instability and Turbulence

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Parcel Exchange Analysis of Flow Stability

5.3 Wave Instability

5.4 The Critical Level

5.5 Neutral, Stable, and Unstable Modes

5.6 Wave-Modulated Richardson Number

5.7 Wave–Turbulence Coupling

5.8 Jefferys’ Roll-Wave Instability Mechanism

Problems

Wave Stress

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Mathematical Derivation

6.3 Variation of Wave Stress with Height

6.4 Mountain Wave Stress

6.5 Secondary Effects of Wave Drag

Problems

Gravity Waves in the Middle and Upper Atmosphere

1 Introduction

2 Background

3 Interia-Gravity Waves in the Middle Atmosphere

4 Planetary Waves in the Middle Atmosphere

5 Midlatitude Wave Spectra

6 Modeling the Gravity Wave Fluxes in the MUA

Problems

Wave Stress Parameterization

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Wave-Saturation Parameterization

8.3 Parameterization Methods

8.4 Saturation Limits and Other Problems

8.5 Problems

Observations and Measurements of Gravity Waves

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Ground-Based Measurements

9.3 Free-Balloon Soundings

9.4 Remote Measurements

Problems

Gravity Wave Analyses

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Analyses of Tropospheric Gravity Waves

10.3 Gravity Wave Analyses in the MUA

Problems

The Hydrostatic Atmosphere

A.1 The Hydrostatic Approximation

A.2 The Scale Height of the Isothermal Atmosphere

A.3 Adiabatic Lapse Rate

A.4 Potential Temperature

A.5 Boussinesq Relations

A.6 The Geostrophic Wind

A.7 The Critical Level

A.8 Convolution

A.9 The Eckman Wind Spiral

A.10 Numerical Methods

Bibliography

Index

IG Series

Gravity waves exist in all types of geophysical fluids, such as lakes, oceans, and atmospheres. They play an important role in redistributing energy at disturbances, such as mountains or seamounts and they are routinely studied in meteorology and oceanography, particularly simulation models, atmospheric weather models, turbulence, air pollution, and climate research.

An Introduction to Atmospheric Gravity Waves provides readers with a working background of the fundamental physics and mathematics of gravity waves, and introduces a wide variety of applications and numerous recent advances.

Nappo provides a concise volume on gravity waves with a lucid discussion of current observational techniques and instrumentation.An accompanying website contains real data, computer codes for data analysis, and linear gravity wave models to further enhance the reader's understanding of the book's material.

• Companion web site features animations and streaming video
• Foreword by George Chimonas, a renowned expert on the interactions of gravity waves with turbulence
• Includes a new application-based component for use in climate and weather predictions

Graduate and advanced undergraduate students, as well as scientists and engineers in government agencies and research laboratories specializing in geophysical fluid dynamics, ocean and atmospheric physics, climate research, air pollution, turbulence, and atmospheric chemistry. (NOAA, NASA, NSF, EPA, etc.)