Wave Structure of the Tropical Stratosphere over the Marshall Islands Area during 1 April–1 July 1958

Abstract

Stratospheric wind data for the Marshall Islands region during 1 April–1 July, 1958, are analyzed for contributions in the 4–6 day period range. It is shown that, excluding waves with vertical wavelengths n=1 Rossby waves with zonal wavenumbers 4–6 days due to the acceleration of the mean flow by waves, and there may also be power at periods <4–6 days due to the modification of the waves by the changing mean flow. We finally examine what the theory suggests is happening at levels where wave absorption is altering the mean flow, and show, some of the difficulties in relating such behavior to data averaged over a three-month period.