Spectrum Analyses of Temperature, Wind, & Atmospheric Density

During GALE, we obtainted more than 65 hours high quality data in eight nights. Currently we are analyzing the vertical wavenumber and temporal frequency spectra of temperature and wind. Initial analyses indicate that the vertical wave number spectrum of horizontal wind is similar to earlier radar and lidar observations with a power index of -3. The vertical wavenumber spectra of temperature and relative atmospheric density have similar characteristics. The slopes are very close to -3. The power indecies of temporal frequency spectra of both temperature and relative atmospheric density are close to -2. However, the slopes of vertical wavenumber and temporal frequency spectra of vertical wind are significantly different from predictions of linear theory. Both of them are very shallow, close to -1.

Following are plots of vertical wavenumber and temporal frequency spectra of wind, temperature, and relative atmospheric density perturbations for February 2, 1995. For more detailed information, please see our campaign summary.

Vertical wavenumber (m) spectrum of horizontal wind on February 2, 1995.

Vertical wavenumber (m) spectrum of temperature on February 2, 1995.

Temporal frequency (omega) spectrum of temperature on February 2, 1995.

Vertical wavenumber (m) spectrum of relative atmospheric density on February 2, 1995.

Temporal frequency (omega) spectrum of relative atmospheric density on February 2, 1995.

Vertical wavenumber (m) spectrum of vertical wind on February 2, 1995.

Temporal frequency (omega) spectrum of vertical wind on February 2, 1995.