A statistical study of inertia gravity waves in the troposphere based on the measurements of Wuhan Atmosphere Radio Exploration (WARE) radar

Abstract

AbstractWuhan atmosphere radio exploration (WARE) radar is the first mesosphere‐stratosphere‐troposphere radar to have become operative in the mainland of China and is dedicated to real‐time atmospheric observations. Based on the WARE radar data collected for the period from September 2011 to February 2013, 2666 downward and 1735 upward inertia gravity waves (IGWs) are identified from three‐dimensional (3‐D) wind fields observed in the troposphere and subsequently analyzed in a statistical manner. Wave characteristics including intrinsic frequencies, vertical wavelengths, horizontal wavelengths, vertical wave number spectra, energy density spectra, and wave sources are investigated using a combination of the Lomb‐Scargle spectral analysis, the quasi‐monochromatic gravity waves model, and the hodograph method. Our results demonstrate that the characteristic parameters of upward and downward tropospheric IGWs are not significantly different. These results indicate that the tropospheric IGWs parameters are not directly correlated with propagation directions. Combining with the information of statistical 3‐D wind field and some climatic characteristics of Hubei Province, atmospheric moist convection will contribute most in summer, whereas jet/front systems will contribute most in winter. One may expect seasonal variations to be tied to the varying importance of these sources.