Detection of high frequency gravity waves using high resolution radiosonde observations

Until now most of the gravity waves (GWs) characteristics reported using radiosonde observations are of low frequency waves. In the present study, a method to detect high frequency GWs using radiosonde observations has been presented. Making use of this method, long-term high resolution radiosonde data at Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E), a tropical station in India, has been analyzed. The vertical (horizontal) wavelengths of the GWs lie in the range of 6–12 km (100–300 km) and 3–7 km (100–500 km) in the troposphere and lower stratosphere, respectively. From the simultaneous MST radar observations the periods of these GWs are found to be in the range of 2–6 h. The propagation direction is towards south-east/north-west and south-east in the lower troposphere and lower stratosphere, respectively. These characteristics are quite different from those reported for the inertial period GWs. This analysis, if extended to the global network of radiosonde observations, will help to parameterize the high frequency GWs in the global models.

► A method to detect high frequency GWs using radiosonde observations has been presented.
► From the simultaneous MST radar observations the periods of these GWs are found to be 2–6 h.
► These characteristics are quite different with those reported for the inertial period GWs.
► This analysis will help to parameterize the high frequency GWs in the global models.