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1982•Geophysical Research LettersRequires access

Mean meridional winds in the mid‐ and high‐latitude summer mesosphere

Gregory D. Nastrom, B. B. Balsley, D. A. Carter

Open publisher page 71 citations

Abstract

We examine the mean meridional flow in the summer upper mesosphere using data from the Poker Flat MST radar and all other available stations. The observed mean flow is equatorward at about 10‐15 ms−1 near 60°N, about an order of magnitude larger than expected from numerical model results. The Rayleigh friction coefficient required to balance the coriolis torque associated with this flow is about 4 days−1, about ten times larger than values currently used in numerical models.

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What this paper is about

We examine the mean meridional flow in the summer upper mesosphere using data from the Poker Flat MST radar and all other available stations. The observed mean flow is equatorward at about 10‐15 ms−1 near 60°N, about an order of magnitude larger than expected from numerical model results. The Rayleigh friction coefficient required to balance the coriolis torque associated with this flow is about 4 days−1, about ten times larger than values currently used in numerical models.

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Available abstract

We examine the mean meridional flow in the summer upper mesosphere using data from the Poker Flat MST radar and all other available stations. The observed mean flow is equatorward at about 10‐15 ms−1 near 60°N, about an order of magnitude larger than expected from numerical model results. The Rayleigh friction coefficient required to balance the coriolis torque associated with this flow is about 4 days−1, about ten times larger than values currently used in numerical models.

Key concepts: Zonal and meridional, Mesosphere, Meridional flow, Latitude, Mean flow, Atmospheric sciences, Geology, Zonal flow (plasma)

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