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Abstract Qualities of the meridional movements of geopotential height anomalies in the upper troposphere of the subtropics are analysed via wavelet analysis using a meridional–temporal partial Morlet wavelet. Results show that power, which represents increased presence or amplitude of waves with direct meridional movement, is increased in regions where the corresponding equatorial winds in the upper troposphere are westerly or weakly easterly. Furthermore, equatorward power is enhanced near subtropical jet exit regions whereas poleward power is enhanced in jet entrance regions. Regressions of upper‐tropospheric winds, geopotential height, and outgoing long‐wave radiation (OLR) against the wavelet transforms demonstrate that the wavelets are identifying signals with tropical–extratropical interactions that are connected to organized convection in the tropics. The relationship of power with background‐state flow characteristics, including the horizontal winds and shear, are evaluated. Instead of the zonal wind and meridional shear of the zonal wind (du/dy), both the meridional wind and the zonal shear of the meridional wind (dv/dx) appear to have a clearer relationship with the power. Power is favoured for waves whose movement is aligned in the same direction as the meridional wind, and reduced in the opposite direction. Additionally, power increases with increasing zonal shear of the meridional wind in the Northern Hemisphere and with decreasing zonal shear of the meridional wind in the Southern Hemisphere. Power in the equatorward direction is stronger than in the poleward direction and more heavily influenced by background flow characteristics. Furthermore, power for wavelets with smaller meridional and temporal scales tends to have a higher sensitivity to the background horizontal flow as compared to larger meridional and temporal scales.
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This content will become publicly available on June 1, 2025
HIWIND Balloon and Antarctica Jang Bogo FPI High Latitude Conjugate Thermospheric Wind Observations and Simulations
Abstract Using theHighattitude Interferometer WIND observation balloon and Antarctic Jang Bogo station high latitude conjugate observations of the thermospheric winds we investigate the seasonal and hemispheric differences between the northern and southern hemispheres in June 2018. We found that the summer (northern) hemisphere dayside meridional winds have a double‐hump feature, whereas in the winter (southern) hemisphere the dayside meridional winds have a single hump feature. We attribute that to stronger summer, perhaps, northern hemisphere cusp heating. We also compared the observation with NCAR Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM) model. The TIEGCM reproduced the double‐hump feature because of added cusp heating. The summer hemisphere has stronger anti‐sunward winds. This is the first time we have very high latitude conjugate thermospheric wind observations.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2120511
- PAR ID:
- 10539427
- Publisher / Repository:
- JGR
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
- Volume:
- 129
- Issue:
- 6
- ISSN:
- 2169-9380
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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