Abstract
A critical review is presented of the understanding of gravity wave characteristics based on earlier observational studies since the 1980’s. Following comments on the basic idea of the gravity wave dynamics and the capability of observational techniques, results of rocketsonde, balloonsonde and MU radar data analyses are briefly recalled. It is stressed that the “climatology of gravity wave sources” is still open to question, even though we have had some case studies of various processes for the generation of gravity waves in the lower atmosphere. Another important question is the vertical distribution of gravity wave activities relating to wave breaking (and/or dissipation) processes in the stratosphere and mesosphere, in connection with seasonal variations of the background field. Finally critical comments are added on the current attempt of the gravity wave parameterization in GCMs by emphasizing the need for many more detailed observations in the future.
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© 1997 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Hirota, I. (1997). Some Problems Relating to the Observed Characteristics of Gravity Waves in the Middle Atmosphere. In: Hamilton, K. (eds) Gravity Wave Processes. NATO ASI Series, vol 50. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60654-0_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60654-0_1
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