Abstract
Observations of noctilucent clouds indicate the frequent occurrence of wave-like motions and Kelvin–Helmholtz billows at the high latitude summer mesospause1,2 (∼83 km), but to date no other technique appears to have produced direct evidence of their pres-ence at these heights3. High-powered mesosphere–stratosphere–troposphere very high frequency Doppler radars with good height and time resolution (∼150∼300 m and ∼10 s respectively) capable of making such observations have recently become available, and the backscattering regions in the mesosphere detected by such radars often take the form of thin layers that appear to be pro-duced by dynamical instabilities in the region of maximum wind shear4. Such wind conditions should produce Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities, and here we present two examples of mesospheric radar observations that suggest the characteristic 'cat's-eye'-like turbulent structures often associated with them in other parts of the atmosphere5, the ocean6 and in laboratory experiments7.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
1. Witt, G. Tellus 14, 1–12 (1962). 2. Haurwitz, B. & Fogle, B. Deep Sea Res. 16, 85–95 (1969). 3. Fritts, D. C. & Rastogi, P. K. Radio Sci. 20, 1247–1277 (1985). 4. Ruster, R. Adv. Space Res. 4, 3–18 (1984). 5. Rottger, J. & Schmidt, G. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Electron. 17, 182–189 (1979). 6. Woods, J. D. / Fluid Mech. 32, 791–800 (1968). 7. Thorpe, S. A. J. Fluid Mech. 85, 7–31 (1978). 8. Balsley, B. B. & Gage, K. S. Pure appl. Geophys. 118, 452–493 (1980). 9. Harper, R. M. & Gordon, W. E. Radio Sci. 15, 195–211 (1980). 10. Czechowsky, P. et al Radio Sci. 19, 441–450 (1984). 11. Woodman, R. F. Radio Sci. 20, 1185–1195 (1985). 12. Browning, K. A. & Watkins, C. D. Nature 227, 260–263 (1970). 13. Fritts, D. C. Rev. Geophys. 22, 275–308 (1984). 14. Orlanski, I. & Bryan, K. /. geophys. Res. 71, 6975–6983 (1969). 15. Ruster, R. & Klostermeyer, J. /. atmos. terr. Phys. (in the press). 16. Browning, K. A. Q. Jl R met. Soc. 97, 283–299 (1971). 17. Fogle, B. & Haurwitz, B. Space Sci. Rev. 6, 279–340 (1966). 18. Lloyd, K. H. et al. Plan. Space Sci. 21, 653–661 (1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Reid, I., Rüster, R. & Schmidt, G. VHF radar observations of cat's-eye-like structures at mesopheric heights. Nature 327, 43–45 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/327043a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/327043a0
This article is cited by
-
VHF radar measurements of momentum flux using summer polar mesopause echoes
Earth, Planets and Space (2018)
-
A review of gravity wave saturation processes, effects, and variability in the middle atmosphere
Pure and Applied Geophysics PAGEOPH (1989)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.