On the distortions in calculated GW parameters during slanted atmospheric soundings

DE LA TORRE, ALEJANDRO; ALEXANDER, PETER; SCHMIDT, TORSTEN; LLAMEDO, PABLO; HIERRO, RODRIGO

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques

Copernicus

Año: 2018 vol. 11 p. 1363 - 1375

The significant distortions introduced in the measuredatmospheric gravity wavelengths by soundings otherthan those in vertical and horizontal directions, are discussedas a function of the elevation angle of the soundingpath and the gravity wave aspect ratio. Under- or overestimationof real vertical wavelengths during the measurementprocess depends on the value of these two parameters.The consequences of these distortions on thecalculation of the energy and the vertical flux of horizontalmomentum are analyzed and discussed in thecontext of two experimental limb satellite setups: GPSLEOradio occultations and TIMED/SABER ((Atmosphereusing Broadband Emission Radiometry/Thermosphere?Ionosphere?Mesosphere?Energetics and Dynamics)) measurements.Possible discrepancies previously found betweenthe momentum flux calculated from satellite temperatureprofiles, on site and from model simulations, may to a certaindegree be attributed to these distortions. A recalculation ofprevious momentum flux climatologies based