Planetary waves near the mesospheric easterly jet

Abstract

Analysis of temperatures retrieved from satellite limb radiance measurements of the stratosphere and mesosphere during January-February 1979 reveals 3 prominent waves: wave number 3 with period 2.1 days, wave number 4 with period 1.8 days, and wave number 1 with period approximately 9 days. Each of these has maximum amplitude in the equatorward shear zone of the summer mesospheric easterly jet and propagates westward. Characteristics of the 1.8 day wave number 4 mode indicate that it arises from instability of the jet. The set of three waves may comprise an interacting triad.