Abstract
ATMOSPHERIC solitary waves are gravity waves that retain their integrity over long periods because of a near balance between nonlinearity and dispersion. They have been observed on various scales in many regions of the world1–3, but we present here detailed measurements of solitary waves with amplitudes comparable to the scale height of the lower troposphere. Two such waves were generated downstream of intense mid-tropospheric pressure troughs over the central United States. They propagated over 1,000km (several times their wavelength) with no appreciable change in structure within a 'waveguide' formed by surface inversion and a middle tropospheric critical level. Fluctuations in surface pressure associated with the two waves exceeded 6 mbar and 10 mbar. The waves caused banded patterns of precipitation and significantly influenced other meteorological phenomena. The restoration of balance between pressure-driven air flow and the Coriolis force ('geostrophic adjustment') seems to have a prominent role in the formation of these solitary waves.
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Ramamurthy, M., Collins, B., Rauber, R. et al. Evidence of very-large-amplitude solitary waves in the atmosphere. Nature 348, 314–317 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/348314a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/348314a0
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