Middle Atmosphere

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-vi

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2. Introduction

   • R. Alan Plumb, Robert A. Vincent

   Pages 149-150

3. Earlier Days of Gravity Waves Revisited

   • Colin O. Hines

   Pages 151-170

4. A Note on Some Early Radiosonde Temperature Observations in the Antarctic Lower Stratosphere

   • H. R. Phillpot

   Pages 171-180

5. The Impact of Base-Level Analyses on Stratospheric Circulation Statistics for the Southern Hemisphere

   • David J. Karoly

   Pages 181-194

6. Comparison of Data and Derived Quantities for the Middle Atmosphere of the Southern Hemisphere

   • W. L. Grose, A. O’Neill

   Pages 195-212

7. Some Comparisons between the Middle Atmosphere Dynamics of the Southern and Northern Hemispheres

   • David G. Andrews

   Pages 213-232

8. On the Seasonal Cycle of Stratospheric Planetary Waves

   • R. Alan Plumb

   Pages 233-242

9. Body Force Circulations in a Compressible Atmosphere: Key Concepts

   • Timothy J. Dunkerton

   Pages 243-262

10. Satellite Data Analysis of Ozone Differences in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

    • Marvin A. Geller, Mao Fao Wu, Eric Nash

    Pages 263-275

11. Further Evidence of Normal Mode Rossby Waves

    • Toshihiko Hirooka, Isamu Hirota

    Pages 277-289

12. Monthly Mean Winds in the Mesosphere at 44S and 78S

    • G. J. Fraser

    Pages 291-301

13. Radar Observations of Prevailing Winds and Waves in the Southern Hemisphere Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere

    • A. Phillips, R. A. Vincent

    Pages 303-318

14. Comparison of Geostrophic and Nonlinear Balanced Winds from LIMS Data and Implications for Derived Dynamical Quantities

    • T. Miles, W. L. Grose

    Pages 319-342

15. A Review of Gravity Wave Saturation Processes, Effects, and Variability in the Middle Atmosphere

    • David C. Fritts

    Pages 343-371

16. Theory of Internal Gravity Wave Saturation

    • Timothy J. Dunkerton

    Pages 373-397

17. A Theory of Enhanced Saturation of the Gravity Wave Spectrum Due to Increases in Atmospheric Stability

    • Thomas E. VanZandt, David C. Fritts

    Pages 399-420

18. The Effect of Horizontal Resolution on Gravity Waves Simulated by the GFDL “SKYHI” General Circulation Model

    • Y. Hayashi, D. G. Golder, J. D. Mahlman, S. Miyahara

    Pages 421-443

19. Laboratory Observations of Gravity Wave Critical-Layer Flows

    • Donald P. Delisi, Timothy J. Dunkerton

    Pages 445-461

20. Wind Fluctuations near a Cold Vortex-Tropopause Funnel System Observed by the MU Radar

    • Shoichiro Fukao, Manabu D. Yamanaka, Hiromasa Matsumoto, Toru Sato, Toshitaka Tsuda, Susumu Kato

    Pages 463-479

PAGEOPH, stratosphere, these differences provide us with new evidence, interpretation of which can materially help to advance our understanding of stratospheric dynamics in general. It is now weil established that smaller-scale motions-in particular gravity waves and turbulence-are of fundamental importance in the general circulation of the mesosphere; they seem to be similarly, if less spectacularly, significant in the troposphere, and probably also in the stratosphere. Our understanding of these motions, their effects on the mean circulation and their mutual interactions is progressing rapidly, as is weil illustrated by the papers in this issue; there are reports of observational studies, especially with new instruments such as the Japanese MV radar, reviews of the state of theory, a laboratory study and an analysis of gravity waves and their effects in the high resolution "SKYHI" general circulation model. There are good reasons to suspect that gravity waves may be of crucial significance in making the stratospheric circulation the way it is (modeling experience being one suggestive piece of evidence for this). Direct observational proof has thus far been prevented by the difficulty of making observations of such scales of motion in this region; in one study reported here, falling sphere observations are used to obtain information on the structure and intensity of waves in the upper stratosphere.

• atmosphere
• Scale
• stratosphere
• Troposphere

• Center for Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA

  R. Alan Plumb

• Department of Physics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

  Robert A. Vincent

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