Gravity wave activity associated with tropical convection detected in TOGA COARE Sounding data

Abstract

Upper‐air sounding data collected at Santa Cruz (10°S, 165°E) in the western tropical Pacific Ocean during November 1992–February 1993 have been used to estimate the gravity wave activity in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Large amplitude gravity waves with vertical wavelengths of 2–5 km were found in almost all the soundings. Time series describing the wave activity in two height ranges, 10–17 km (the upper troposphere) and 17–24 km (the lower stratosphere) are presented and compared to simple measures of the convective cloud activity. There is enhanced gravity wave activity associated with increased convection on intraseasonal timescales.