Atmospheric gravity waves in the Red Sea: a new hotspot

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Magalhaes, JM (Author) Other; Araujo, IB (Author) Other; da Silva, JCB (Author) FCUP; Grimshaw, RHJ (Author) Other; Davis, K (Author) Other; Pineda, J (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics

Vol. 18

Pages: 71-79

ISSN: 1023-5809

Publisher: Copernicus

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 8 Citations

Scopus - 7 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-Z7Z

DOI: 10.5194/npg-18-71-2011

Abstract (EN): The region of the Middle East around the Red Sea (between 32 degrees E and 44 degrees E longitude and 12 degrees N and 28 degrees N latitude) is a currently undocumented hotspot for atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs). Satellite imagery shows evidence that this region is prone to relatively high occurrence of AGWs compared to other areas in the world, and reveals the spatial characteristics of these waves. The favorable conditions for wave propagation in this region are illustrated with three typical cases of AGWs propagating in the lower troposphere over the sea. Using weakly nonlinear long wave theory and the observed characteristic wavelengths we obtain phase speeds which are consistent with those observed and typical for AGWs, with the Korteweg-de Vries theory performing slightly better than Benjamin-Davis-Acrivos-Ono theory as far as phase speeds are concerned. ERS-SAR and Envisat-ASAR satellite data analysis between 1993 and 2008 reveals signatures consistent with horizontally propagating large-scale internal waves. These signatures cover the entire Red Sea and are more frequently observed between April and September, although they also occur during the rest of the year. The region's (seasonal) propagation conditions for AGWs, based upon average vertical atmospheric stratification profiles suggest that many of the signatures identified

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9