Observation of thermospheric gravity waves in the Southern Hemisphere with GOLD | CU Experts

The middle thermospherefrom ~150 to 250 km is; characterized by rapid increase in temperature with altitude and rapid; ionization. The entire thermosphere is believed to be home to; atmospheric waves that propagate through it, originating both in the; atmospheric layers below and in the thermosphere itself. Within the; middle thermosphere, direct observations of such waves are extremely; sparse. The GOLD far-UV imaging spectrometer is able to observe the; middle thermosphere from geostationary orbit. During October 2018 a; special observational campaign was performed, designed to identify; atmospheric waves. Signatures in the 135.6 nm O airglow were seen that; move northwards with time, away from the Southern polar region. These; are consistent with a large-scale atmospheric gravity wave. These; results are the first time 135.6 nm airglow has been used to track such; a wave and highlight the ability of GOLD to observe such waves, even; when at a modest amplitude, and track their motion.

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