Atmospheric gravity waves in the Red Sea: a new hotspot

J. M. Magalhaes; I. B. Araújo; J. C. B. da Silva; R. H. J. Grimshaw; K. Davis; J. Pineda

doi:10.5194/npg-18-71-2011

Atmospheric gravity waves in the Red Sea: a new hotspot

J. M. Magalhaes, I. B. Araújo, J. C. B. da Silva, R. H. J. Grimshaw, K. Davis, J. Pineda

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The region of the Middle East around the Red Sea (between 32° E and 44° E longitude and 12° N and 28° 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 in the satellite images are atmospheric internal waves. © Author(s) 2011.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	71-79
Number of pages	9
Journal	Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
Volume	18
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-18-71-2011
State	Published - Feb 3 2011
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledgements: This research was conducted with support
from KAUST (King Abdullah University for Science and Technology)
in collaboration with the Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution, Biology Department. The views expressed in this
manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent
the official opinion of KAUST. Some support was also provided
by a Treaty of Windsor Grant awarded by the British Council
(Portugal). SAR image data was provided by ESA under contract
AOPT-2423. One of us would like to thank the Portuguese
Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) for a research grant
(SFRH/BD/35898/2007).
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

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10.5194/npg-18-71-2011

https://repository.kaust.edu.sa/bitstream/10754/596986/1/npg-18-71-2011.pdf

Cite this

@article{b120a824fe7a44aa93375b73476c5040,

title = "Atmospheric gravity waves in the Red Sea: a new hotspot",

abstract = "The region of the Middle East around the Red Sea (between 32° E and 44° E longitude and 12° N and 28° 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 in the satellite images are atmospheric internal waves. {\textcopyright} Author(s) 2011.",

author = "Magalhaes, {J. M.} and Ara{\'u}jo, {I. B.} and {da Silva}, {J. C. B.} and Grimshaw, {R. H. J.} and K. Davis and J. Pineda",

note = "KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01 Acknowledgements: This research was conducted with support from KAUST (King Abdullah University for Science and Technology) in collaboration with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Biology Department. The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official opinion of KAUST. Some support was also provided by a Treaty of Windsor Grant awarded by the British Council (Portugal). SAR image data was provided by ESA under contract AOPT-2423. One of us would like to thank the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) for a research grant (SFRH/BD/35898/2007). This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.",

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AU - Magalhaes, J. M.

AU - Araújo, I. B.

AU - da Silva, J. C. B.

AU - Grimshaw, R. H. J.

AU - Davis, K.

AU - Pineda, J.

N1 - KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01 Acknowledgements: This research was conducted with support from KAUST (King Abdullah University for Science and Technology) in collaboration with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Biology Department. The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official opinion of KAUST. Some support was also provided by a Treaty of Windsor Grant awarded by the British Council (Portugal). SAR image data was provided by ESA under contract AOPT-2423. One of us would like to thank the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) for a research grant (SFRH/BD/35898/2007). This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

PY - 2011/2/3

Y1 - 2011/2/3

N2 - The region of the Middle East around the Red Sea (between 32° E and 44° E longitude and 12° N and 28° 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 in the satellite images are atmospheric internal waves. © Author(s) 2011.

AB - The region of the Middle East around the Red Sea (between 32° E and 44° E longitude and 12° N and 28° 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 in the satellite images are atmospheric internal waves. © Author(s) 2011.

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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79551704749&partnerID=8YFLogxK

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DO - 10.5194/npg-18-71-2011

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EP - 79

JO - Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics

JF - Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics

IS - 1

ER -

Atmospheric gravity waves in the Red Sea: a new hotspot

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