The Shape of Internal Waves of Finite Amplitude from High-Resolution Radar Sounding of the Lower Atmosphere

Abstract

A high-resolution, vertically pointing FM/CW radar is used to record internal gravity waves in the lower atmosphere. When the temperature inversion in the atmosphere is near the ground (measured in wavelengths of the gravity waves), the shape of the waves indicates that nonlinear effects become important. Examples of such waves are shown and their shape is discussed. Theoretical results of Hunt, based on the Stokes method of approximating the solutions for waves of finite amplitude, are used to compare observation with theory.