Global distribution and climatological features of the 5-6-day planetary waves seen in the SABER/TIMED temperatures (2002-2007)

The paper is focused on the global spatial structure, seasonal and interannual variability of the ∼5-day Rossby (W1) and ∼6-day Kelvin (E1) waves derived from the SABER/TIMED temperature measurements for 6 full years (January 2002-December 2007). The latitude structure of the ∼5-day W1 wave is related to the gravest symmetric wave number 1 Rossby wave. The vertical structure of the ∼5-day Rossby wave amplitude consists of double-peaked maxima centred at ∼80-90 km and ∼105-110 km. This wave has a vertically propagating phase structure from the stratosphere up to 120 km altitude with a mean vertical wavelength of ∼50-60 km. The ∼6-day E1 wave is an equatorially trapped wave symmetric about the equator and located between 20°N and 20°S. Its seasonal behaviour indicates some equinoctial and June solstice amplifications, while the vertical phase structure indicates that this is a vertically propagating wave between 20-100 km altitudes with a mean vertical wavelength of ∼25 km.