The quasi 2-day wave in the Southern Hemisphere mesosphere

Abstract

We report here preliminary results of a coordinated series of observations made in January and February 1980 to observe the quasi 2-day wave in winds in the Southern Hemisphere mesosphere. The observations were made with the aim of measuring both the vertical and horizontal structure of the wave whose presence has previously been observed at several meteor wind stations in the Northern Hemisphere and at one station (Adelaide) in the Southern Hemisphere1–3. Rocket observations also indicate the possible existence of a 2-day wave in the winds near the equatorial stratopause4. The observations suggest that the wave is a late summer phenomenon, peaking in late July/early August in the Northern Hemisphere and in late January/early February in the Southern Hemisphere.