Observations of vertical velocities in the tropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere using the Arecibo 430‐MHZ radar

Abstract

We report the first clear‐air observations of vertical velocities in the tropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (8–22 km) using the Arecibo 430‐MHz radar. Oscillations in the vertical velocity near the Brunt‐Väisälä period are observed in the lower stratosphere during the 12‐hour observation period. Frequency power spectra from the vertical velocity time series show a slope between −0.5 and −1.0. Vertical wave number spectra computed from the height profiles of vertical velocities have slopes between −1.0 and −1.5. These observed slopes do not agree well with the slopes of +1/3 and −2.5 for frequency and vertical wave number spectra, respectively, predicted by a universal gravity‐wave spectrum model. The spectral power of wave number spectra of a radial beam directed 15° off‐zenith is enhanced by an order of magnitude over the spectral power levels of the vertical beam. This enhancement suggests that other geophysical processes besides gravity waves are present in the horizontal flow. The steepening of the wave number spectrum of the off‐vertical beam in the lower stratosphere to near −2.0 is attributed to a quasi‐inertial period wave, which was present in the horizontal flow during the observation period.