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Effective vertical diffusion by atmospheric gravity waves
  • Han-Li Liu
Han-Li Liu
National Center for Atmospheric Research, P. O. Box, 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000, National Center for Atmospheric Research, P. O. Box, 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Quantification of heat and constituent transport by gravity waves in global models is challenging due to limited model resolutions. Current parameterization schemes suffer from over-simplification and often underestimate the transport rate. In this study, a new approach is explored to quantify the effective vertical eddy diffusion by using a high-resolution WACCM simulation based on scale invariance. The WACCM simulation can partially resolve the mesoscale gravity wave spectrum down to ~250 km horizontal wavelength, and the heat flux and the effective vertical eddy diffusion by these waves are calculated directly. The effective vertical diffusion by the smaller-scale, unresolved waves, is then deduced based on scale invariance, following the method outlined by Liu (2019) in quantifying gravity wave momentum flux and forcing. The effective vertical diffusion obtained is generally larger than that obtained from parameterizations, and is comparable with that derived from observations in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region.