Abstract
Atmospheric gravity waves generated by an eclipse were first proposed in 1970. Despite numerous efforts since, there has been no definitive evidence for eclipse generated gravity waves in the lower to middle atmosphere. Measuring wave characteristics produced by a definite forcing event such as an eclipse provides crucial knowledge for developing more accurate physical descriptions of gravity waves. These waves are fundamental to the transport of energy and momentum throughout the atmosphere and their parameterization or simulation in numerical models provides increased accuracy to forecasts. Here, we present the findings from a radiosonde field campaign carried out during the total solar eclipse of July 2, 2019 aimed at detecting eclipse-driven gravity waves in the stratosphere. This eclipse was the source of three stratospheric gravity waves. The first wave (eclipse wave #1) was detected 156 min after totality and the other two waves were detected 53 and 62 min after totality (eclipse waves #2 and #3 respectively) using balloon-borne radiosondes. Our results demonstrate both the importance of field campaign design and the limitations of currently accepted balloon-borne analysis techniques for the detection of stratospheric gravity waves.
Highlights
Atmospheric gravity waves generated by an eclipse were first proposed in 1970
The choice of field site was dictated by the Chilean Directorate General of Civil Aviation and coincident measurements with the Andes LiDAR Observatory (ALO)
While Collowara Tourist Observatory (CTO) was well within the path of totality for the 2019 eclipse, it should be noted that the dynamic terrain of the Andes mountains are themselves a likely source of atmospheric gravity waves
Summary
Atmospheric gravity waves generated by an eclipse were first proposed in 1970. Despite numerous efforts since, there has been no definitive evidence for eclipse generated gravity waves in the lower to middle atmosphere. Measuring wave characteristics produced by a definite forcing event such as an eclipse provides crucial knowledge for developing more accurate physical descriptions of gravity waves These waves are fundamental to the transport of energy and momentum throughout the atmosphere and their parameterization or simulation in numerical models provides increased accuracy to forecasts. We present the findings from a radiosonde field campaign carried out during the total solar eclipse of July 2, 2019 aimed at detecting eclipse-driven gravity waves in the stratosphere. The first wave (eclipse wave #1) was detected 156 min after totality and the other two waves were detected 53 and 62 min after totality (eclipse waves #2 and #3 respectively) using balloon-borne radiosondes Our results demonstrate both the importance of field campaign design and the limitations of currently accepted balloon-borne analysis techniques for the detection of stratospheric gravity waves. With the eclipse representing a short-duration event, having three additional hours of data after totality and before sunset represents enough time to see a recovery in the atmospheric state when the eclipse is no longer an influencing event
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