Coordinated airglow observations between IMAP/VISI and a ground‐based all‐sky imager on concentric gravity wave in the mesopause

Abstract

Abstract We present a study of concentric gravity waves (CGWs) event from the coordinated observation between Ionosphere, Mesosphere, upper Atmosphere, and Plasmasphere mapping (IMAP)/Visible and near‐Infrared Spectral Imager (VISI), all‐sky camera at Rikubetsu, Multi‐functional Transport Satellite (MTSAT), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, and MF radar at Wakkanai combined with Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Application data. IMAP/VISI is the first space‐based imager that capable of imaging the airglow in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region in the nadir‐looking direction. Therefore, it has a unique ability to observe a great extend of CGWs propagation. Arc‐like shaped, part of CGWs pattern was observed around the mesopause (~95 km) in the O 2 762 nm airglow emission obtained by IMAP/VISI at 1204 UT on 18 October 2012. Similar patterns were also observed by the all‐sky imager at Rikubetsu (43.5°N, 143.8°E) in OI 557.7 nm and OH band airglow emissions from ~1100 to 1200 UT. Horizontal wavelengths of the observed small‐scale gravity waves are ~50 km (OH band and OI 557.7 nm) and ~67 km (O 2 762 nm). The source is suggested to be a deep convective activity over Honshu Island which likely was an enhanced convective activity related to a typhoon in the south of Japan. The data showed that the CGWs could propagate up to ~1400–1500 km horizontally from the source to the mesopause but not farther away. Using atmospheric temperature profiles obtained by Thermospheric Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics Dynamics/Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry, we conclude that this long‐distance propagation of the waves could be caused by thermal duct in the middle atmosphere. The arc‐like shaped instead of full circle pattern points out that the wind filtering effect is significant for the particular direction of wave propagation.