Articles | Volume 14, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6821-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6821-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
22 Oct 2021
Research article |
| 22 Oct 2021
| 22 Oct 2021
Gravity wave instability structures and turbulence from more than 1.5 years of OH* airglow imager observations in Slovenia
René Sedlak
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
Patrick Hannawald
Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
German Remote Sensing Data Center, German Aerospace Center,
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Carsten Schmidt
German Remote Sensing Data Center, German Aerospace Center,
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Sabine Wüst
German Remote Sensing Data Center, German Aerospace Center,
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Michael Bittner
Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
German Remote Sensing Data Center, German Aerospace Center,
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Samo Stanič
Center for Astrophysics and Cosmology, University of Nova Gorica,
Ajdovščina, Slovenia
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Short summary
High-resolution images of the OH* airglow layer (ca. 87 km height) acquired at Otlica Observatory, Slovenia, have been analysed. A statistical analysis of small-scale wave structures with horizontal wavelengths up to 4.5 km suggests strong presence of instability features in the upper mesosphere or lower thermosphere. The dissipated energy of breaking gravity waves is derived from observations of turbulent vortices. It is concluded that dynamical heating plays a vital role in the atmosphere.
High-resolution images of the OH* airglow layer (ca. 87 km height) acquired at Otlica...
