Quantifying the Role of Short-Period Gravity Waves on the Antarctic Mesospheric Dynamics Using an Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper

为研究短周期(1小时)重力波在南极中间层和低热层(MLT)区域(约80-100公里)动力学中的作用和重要性，提出了一个重点计划。这些波主要由深对流、锋面活动、地形和低层大气中的强风切变激发，向上输送能量和动量，对MLT动力学产生深刻影响。预计大部分波浪强迫将发生在中低纬度地区，那里是此类震源占主导地位的地区。然而，现在在南极半岛和沿海地区的研究地点发现了大量的短周期波(表现出与中纬度事件相似的特征)，它们的主要水平运动(因此它们的动量通量)表现出强烈的各向异性。无线电探空仪测量证实了南极普遍存在的重力波活动，但迄今为止，还没有对南极内陆深处MLT高度的短周期波特性进行详细测量。特别是，南极站位于独特的位置，调查这些波对MLT区域的过滤和穿透，其中很大一部分可能是穿越巨大地理距离(数千公里)的导管波。南极站新的图像测量与现有的测量计划相结合，将提供前所未有的能力来量化这些重力波在南极中部上空区域MLT动态中的作用。本研究也有助于研究生和本科生的培养和教育。

A focused plan is presented to investigate the role and importance of short period (1 hour) gravity waves on the dynamics of the Antarctic Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere (MLT) region (~80-100 km). Excited primarily by deep convection, frontal activity, topography, and strong wind shears in the lower atmosphere, these waves transport energy and momentum upwards where they have a profound influence on the MLT dynamics. Most of the wave forcing is expected to occur at mid-and low-latitudes where such sources predominate. However, short-period waves (exhibiting similar characteristics to mid-latitude events) have now been detected in copious quantities from research sites on the Antarctic Peninsula and the coastal regions exhibiting strong anisotropy in their dominant horizontal motions (and hence their momentum fluxes). Radiosonde measurements have established the existence of ubiquitous gravity wave activity at South Pole but, to date, there have been no detailed measurements of the properties of short-period waves at MLT heights deep in the Antarctic interior. In particular, the South Pole Station is uniquely situated to investigate the filtering and penetration of these waves into the MLT region, a substantial fraction of which may be ducted waves traveling over vast geographic distances (several thousand km). Novel image measurements at South Pole Station combined with existing measurement programs will provide an unprecedented capability for quantifying the role of these gravity waves on the regional MLT dynamics over central Antarctica. This research also contributes to the training and education of both the graduate and undergraduate students.