The response of superpressure balloons to gravity wave motions
Superpressure balloons (SPB), which float on constant density (isopycnic) surfaces, provide a unique way of measuring the properties of atmospheric gravity waves (GW) as a function of wave intrinsic frequency. Here we devise a quasi-analytic method of investigating the SPB response to GW motions. It...
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European Geosciences Union
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ftunivadelaidedl:oai:digital.library.adelaide.edu.au:2440/86712 2023-12-24T10:09:56+01:00 The response of superpressure balloons to gravity wave motions Vincent, R. Hertzog, A. 2014 application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/2440/86712 https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-1043-2014 en eng European Geosciences Union Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 2014; 7(4):1043-1055 1867-1381 1867-8548 http://hdl.handle.net/2440/86712 doi:10.5194/amt-7-1043-2014 Vincent, R. [0000-0001-6559-6544] © Author(s) 2014. CC Attribution 3.0 License. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-1043-2014 Journal article 2014 ftunivadelaidedl https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-1043-2014 2023-11-27T23:26:31Z Superpressure balloons (SPB), which float on constant density (isopycnic) surfaces, provide a unique way of measuring the properties of atmospheric gravity waves (GW) as a function of wave intrinsic frequency. Here we devise a quasi-analytic method of investigating the SPB response to GW motions. It is shown that the results agree well with more rigorous numerical simulations of balloon motions and provide a better understanding of the response of SPB to GW, especially at high frequencies. The methodology is applied to ascertain the accuracy of GW studies using 12 m diameter SPB deployed in the 2010 Concordiasi campaign in the Antarctic. In comparison with the situation in earlier campaigns, the vertical displacements of the SPB were measured directly using GPS. It is shown using a large number of Monte Carlo-type simulations with realistic instrumental noise that important wave parameters, such as momentum flux, phase speed and wavelengths, can be retrieved with good accuracy from SPB observations for intrinsic wave periods greater than ca. 10 min. The noise floor for momentum flux is estimated to be ca. 10−4 mPa. R. A. Vincent, and A. Hertzog Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic The University of Adelaide: Digital Library Antarctic The Antarctic Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 7 4 1043 1055 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
The University of Adelaide: Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivadelaidedl |
language |
English |
description |
Superpressure balloons (SPB), which float on constant density (isopycnic) surfaces, provide a unique way of measuring the properties of atmospheric gravity waves (GW) as a function of wave intrinsic frequency. Here we devise a quasi-analytic method of investigating the SPB response to GW motions. It is shown that the results agree well with more rigorous numerical simulations of balloon motions and provide a better understanding of the response of SPB to GW, especially at high frequencies. The methodology is applied to ascertain the accuracy of GW studies using 12 m diameter SPB deployed in the 2010 Concordiasi campaign in the Antarctic. In comparison with the situation in earlier campaigns, the vertical displacements of the SPB were measured directly using GPS. It is shown using a large number of Monte Carlo-type simulations with realistic instrumental noise that important wave parameters, such as momentum flux, phase speed and wavelengths, can be retrieved with good accuracy from SPB observations for intrinsic wave periods greater than ca. 10 min. The noise floor for momentum flux is estimated to be ca. 10−4 mPa. R. A. Vincent, and A. Hertzog |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Vincent, R. Hertzog, A. |
spellingShingle |
Vincent, R. Hertzog, A. The response of superpressure balloons to gravity wave motions |
author_facet |
Vincent, R. Hertzog, A. |
author_sort |
Vincent, R. |
title |
The response of superpressure balloons to gravity wave motions |
title_short |
The response of superpressure balloons to gravity wave motions |
title_full |
The response of superpressure balloons to gravity wave motions |
title_fullStr |
The response of superpressure balloons to gravity wave motions |
title_full_unstemmed |
The response of superpressure balloons to gravity wave motions |
title_sort |
response of superpressure balloons to gravity wave motions |
publisher |
European Geosciences Union |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/2440/86712 https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-1043-2014 |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic |
op_source |
http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-1043-2014 |
op_relation |
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 2014; 7(4):1043-1055 1867-1381 1867-8548 http://hdl.handle.net/2440/86712 doi:10.5194/amt-7-1043-2014 Vincent, R. [0000-0001-6559-6544] |
op_rights |
© Author(s) 2014. CC Attribution 3.0 License. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-1043-2014 |
container_title |
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
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7 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
1043 |
op_container_end_page |
1055 |
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1786211740343599104 |