Characteristics of wave induced oscillations in mesospheric O₂emission intensity and temperatures

Abstract

[1] Gravity wave and tidal signatures in mesospheric emissions can be characterized using a quantity η which relates the wave intensity perturbations to the corresponding induced temperature oscillation. The quasi-monochromatic wave induced oscillations in the O2 (0–1) atmospheric emission observed from Maui, Hawaii (20.8 N, 156.2 W) have been investigated for the periods ranging from 1–12 hours. Our results clearly show that ∣η∣ increases from 0.5 to 10 with the increasing wave periods while the phase Ø exhibits a decreasing trend (+75 to −100°). When compared with model, observed trends agree well while significant differences in the absolute values are noted, possibly due to complex chemical and dynamical processes at mesospheric altitudes.