Data Collection from Atmospheric Soundings for Gravity Wave Detection

The discovery of atmospheric gravity waves~and their~capability to transfer energy through the atmosphere has accelerated the interest in weather balloon soundings and the data~collected to locate and characterize the generation of gravity waves.~By examining the formation of the gravity waves, which may be caused by wind shear, convection, or topography,~one is~able to get an improved understanding of how~they~might~impact atmospheric conditions,~with the interest in~using the information to~improve~weather and climate preditions. This research is focused on~using weather balloons and radiosondes to take atmospheric readings while in flight.~From sounding~data~taken~at~sunrise, the observations indicate that the production of gravity waves~might~be~similar~to those previously observed during~total solar eclipses. This presentation will discuss the experimental observation process and the methodology used to identify gravity waves of various types and how these observations are confirmed.~