A case study of gravity waves in noctilucent clouds

• Main Authors: Dalin, P., Kirkwood, S., Moström, A., Stebel, K., Hoffmann, P., Singer, W.
• Other Authors: Swedish Institute of Space Physics Kiruna (IRF), Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics (AIP)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2004
• Subjects: [SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean; Atmosphere; [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences; Esrange; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00317381; https://hal.science/hal-00317381/document; https://hal.science/hal-00317381/file/angeo-22-1875-2004.pdf

International audience We present a case study of a noctilucent cloud (NLC) display appearing on 10-11 August 2000 over Northern Sweden. Clear wave structures were visible in the clouds and time-lapse photography was used to derive the parameters characterising the gravity waves which could account for the observed NLC modulation. Using two nearby atmospheric radars, the Esrange MST Radar data and Andoya MF radar, we have identified gravity waves propagating upward from the upper stratosphere to NLC altitudes. The wave parameters derived from the radar measurements support the suggestion that gravity waves are responsible for the observed complex wave dynamics in the NLC.