Two-Frequency Propagation Mode of Acoustic−Gravity Waves in the Earth’s Atmosphere

Abstract

As is known from multiyear theoretical and experimental studies, acoustic−gravity waves (AGW) determine the dynamics and energy balance of the atmospheres of planets and the Sun to a considerable extent. Linear wave perturbations in the atmosphere can be described with a system of second-order equations for the vertical and horizontal components of the perturbed velocity. It follows from this system that small perturbations in the atmosphere may be considered as oscillations of coupled oscillators with two degrees of freedom. This suggests that it is worth studying more thoroughly the linear acoustic−gravitational wave modes in the atmosphere with well-developed methods of the theory of oscillations. To study small perturbations in the Earth’s atmosphere, the methods of the theory of coupled oscillatory systems were used. It has been shown that acoustic−gravity waves in an isothermal atmosphere can be considered as a superposition of oscillations that occur simultaneously at two natural frequencies—acoustic and gravitational. The equations for the natural frequencies of oscillations, as well as for the components of the perturbed velocity under specified initial conditions, were derived. From the analysis of temporal changes in the components of the perturbed velocity, new features in their behavior were found. All solutions are presented with the use of real quantities only. This representation is more convenient for comparison with observational data than the complex one commonly used in the theory of acoustic−gravity waves. The conditions under which the usual single-frequency oscillation mode can be realized in the atmosphere are analyzed. The results of the study can be used to explain some features in space-borne observations of wave perturbations in the Earth’s atmosphere that do not fit the framework of the known theoretical concepts.