Alexander S. Medvedev

Internal wave coupling processes in Earth’s atmosphere

Abstract This paper presents a contemporary review of vertical coupling in the atmosphere and ionosphere system induced by internal waves of lower atmospheric origin. Atmospheric waves are primarily generated by meteorological processes, possess a broad range of spatial and temporal scales, and can propagate to the upper atmosphere. A brief summary of internal wave theory is given, focusing on gravity waves, solar tides, planetary Rossby and Kelvin waves. Observations of wave signatures in the upper atmosphere, their relationship with the direct propagation of waves into the upper atmosphere, dynamical and thermal impacts as well as concepts, approaches, and numerical modeling techniques are outlined. Recent progress in studies of sudden stratospheric warming and upper atmospheric variability are discussed in the context of wave-induced vertical coupling between the lower and upper atmosphere.

Heating and cooling of the thermosphere by internal gravity waves

For the first time, estimates of heating and cooling in the upper thermosphere due to dissipating and breaking gravity waves ( GWs) of tropospheric origin have been obtained with a comprehensive general circulation model ( GCM). A GW parameterization specifically designed for thermospheric heights has been implemented in the CMAT2 GCM covering altitudes from the tropopause to the F-2 region, and simulations for the June solstice have been performed. They reveal that the net thermal effect of GWs above the turbopause is cooling. The largest ( up to -170 K d(-1) in a zonally and temporally averaged sense) cooling takes place in the high latitudes of both hemispheres near 210 km. The instantaneous values of heating and cooling rates are highly variable, and reach up to 500 and -3000 K d(-1) in the F-2 region, respectively. Inclusion of the GW thermal effects reduces the simulated model temperatures by up to 200 K over the summer pole and by 100 to 170 K at other latitudes near 210 km.

Internal gravity waves in the thermosphere during low and high solar activity: Simulation study

GW drag and wave‐induced heating/cooling are shown to be smaller below ∼170 km at high solar activity, and larger above. The maxima of GW momentum deposition occur much higher in the upper thermosphere, but their peaks are half as strong, 120 vs 240 m s −1 day −1 in the winter hemisphere when the insolation is large. Instead of strong net cooling in the upper thermosphere, GWs produce a weak heating at high solar activity created by fast harmonics less affected by dissipation. Molecular viscosity increases with solar activity at fixed pressure levels, but seen in Cartesian altitude grids it can either increase or decrease in the lower thermosphere, depending on the height. Therefore, in pressure coordinates, in which most GCMs operate, the influence of larger temperatures can be viewed as a competition between the enhanced dissipation and vertical expansion of the atmosphere.

First results of Herschel-PACS observations of Neptune

We report on the initial analysis of a Herschel-PACS full range spectrum of Neptune, covering the 51–220 μm range with a mean resolving power of ~3000, and complemented by a dedicated observation of CH_4 at 120 μm. Numerous spectral features due to HD (R(0) and R(1)), H_(2)O, CH_4, and CO are present, but so far no new species have been found. Our results indicate that (i) Neptunes mean thermal profile is warmer by ~3 K than inferred from the Voyager radio-occultation; (ii) the D/H mixing ratio is (4.5 ± 1) × 10^(-5), confirming the enrichment of Neptune in deuterium over the protosolar value (~2.1 × 10^(-5)); (iii) the CH_4 mixing ratio in the mid stratosphere is (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10^(-3), and CH_4 appears to decrease in the lower stratosphere at a rate consistent with local saturation, in agreement with the scenario of CH_4 stratospheric injection from Neptunes warm south polar region; (iv) the H_(2)O stratospheric column is (2.1 ± 0.5) × 10^(14) cm^(-2) but its vertical distribution is still to be determined, so the H_(2)O external flux remains uncertain by over an order of magnitude; and (v) the CO stratospheric abundance is about twice the tropospheric value, confirming the dual origin of CO suspected from ground-based millimeter/submillimeter observations.

Simulated variability of the high‐latitude thermosphere induced by small‐scale gravity waves during a sudden stratospheric warming

We present the results of the first investigation of the influence of small-scale gravity waves (GWs) originating in the lower atmosphere on the variability of the high-latitude thermosphere during a sudden stratospheric warming (SSW). We use a general circulation model that incorporates the spectral GW parameterization of Yigit et al. (2008). During the warming, the GW penetration into the thermosphere and resulting momentum deposition rates increase by up to a factor of 3–6 in the high-latitude thermosphere. The associated temporal variability of GW dynamical effects at ~250 km are enhanced by up to a factor of ~10, exhibiting complex geographical variations. The peak magnitude of the GW drag temporal variability locally exceeds the mean GW drag by more than a factor of 2. The small-scale thermospheric wind variability is larger when GW propagation into the thermosphere is allowed compared to the case when thermospheric GW effects are absent. These results suggest that GW-induced variations during SSWs constitute a significant source of high-latitude thermospheric variability.

Cooling of the Martian thermosphere by CO2 radiation and gravity waves: An intercomparison study with two general circulation models

Observations show that the lower thermosphere of Mars (∼100–140 km) is up to 40 K colder than the current general circulation models (GCMs) can reproduce. Possible candidates for physical processes missing in the models are larger abundances of atomic oxygen facilitating stronger CO2 radiative cooling and thermal effects of gravity waves. Using two state-of-the-art Martian GCMs, the Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique and Max Planck Institute models that self-consistently cover the atmosphere from the surface to the thermosphere, these physical mechanisms are investigated. Simulations demonstrate that the CO2 radiative cooling with a sufficiently large atomic oxygen abundance and the gravity wave-induced cooling can alone result in up to 40 K colder temperature in the lower thermosphere. Accounting for both mechanisms produce stronger cooling at high latitudes. However, radiative cooling effects peak above the mesopause, while gravity wave cooling rates continuously increase with height. Although both mechanisms act simultaneously, these peculiarities could help to further quantify their relative contributions from future observations.

Herschel/HIFI observations of Mars: first detection of O2 at submillimetre wavelengths and upper limits on HCl and H2O2

We report on an initial analysis of Herschel/HIFI observations of hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen peroxide (H_2O_2), and molecular oxygen (O_2) in the Martian atmosphere performed on 13 and 16 April 2010 (L_s ~ 77°). We derived a constant volume mixing ratio of 1400 ± 120 ppm for O_2 and determined upper limits of 200 ppt for HCl and 2 ppb for H_2O_2. Radiative transfer model calculations indicate that the vertical profile of O_2 may not be constant. Photochemical models determine the lowest values of H_2O_2 to be around L_s ~ 75° but overestimate the volume mixing ratio compared to our measurements.

Gravity waves and high‐altitude CO2 ice cloud formation in the Martian atmosphere

We present the first general circulation model simulations that quantify and reproduce patches of extremely cold air required for CO2 condensation and cloud formation in the Martian mesosphere. They are created by subgrid-scale gravity waves (GWs) accounted for in the model with the interactively implemented spectral parameterization. Distributions of GW-induced temperature fluctuations and occurrences of supersaturation conditions are in a good agreement with observations of high-altitude CO2 ice clouds. Our study confirms the key role of GWs in facilitating CO2 cloud formation, discusses their tidal modulation, and predicts clouds at altitudes higher than have been observed to date.

HIFI observations of water in the atmosphere of comet C/2008 Q3 (Garradd)

High-resolution far-infrared and sub-millimetre spectroscopy of water lines is an important tool to understand the physical and chemical properties of cometary atmospheres. We present observations of several rotational ortho- and para-water transitions in comet C/2008 Q3 (Garradd) performed with HIFI on Herschel. These observations have provided the first detection of the 2(12)-1(01) (1669 GHz) ortho and 1(11)-0(00) (1113 GHz) para transitions of water in a cometary spectrum. In addition, the ground-state transition 1(10)-1(01) at 557 GHz is detected and mapped. By detecting several water lines quasi-simultaneously and mapping their emission we can constrain the excitation parameters in the coma. Synthetic line profiles are computed using excitation models which include excitation by collisions, solar infrared radiation, and radiation trapping. We obtain the gas kinetic temperature, constrain the electron density profile, and estimate the coma expansion velocity by analyzing the map and line shapes. We derive water production rates of 1.7-2.8 x 10(28) s(-1) over the range r(h) = 1.83-1.85 AU.

Water production in comet 81P/Wild 2 as determined by Herschel/HIFI

The high spectral resolution and sensitivity of Herschel/HIFI allows for the detection of multiple rotational water lines and accurate determinations of water production rates in comets. In this Letter we present HIFI observations of the fundamental 1_(10)–1_(01) (557 GHz) ortho and 1_(11)–0_(00) (1113 GHz) para rotational transitions of water in comet 81P/Wild 2 acquired in February 2010. We mapped the extent of the water line emission with five point scans. Line profiles are computed using excitation models which include excitation by collisions with electrons and neutrals and solar infrared radiation. We derive a mean water production rate of 1.0 × 10^(28) molecules s^(−1) at a heliocentric distance of 1.61 AU about 20 days before perihelion, in agreement with production rates measured from the ground using observations of the 18-cm OH lines. Furthermore, we constrain the electron density profile and gas kinetic temperature, and estimate the coma expansion velocity by fitting the water line shapes.