Mechanism for the generation of secondary waves in wave breaking regions

It is well known that wave breaking generates secondary waves. During wave breaking in the mesosphere, momentum is deposited, and a body forcing results. In this paper, we study the result of these temporally- and spatially-localized body forces. It is generally assumed that a body force leads only to the acceleration and establishment of a mean wind and balanced thermal structure. However, as we show here, a significant amount of secondary waves are also radiated in the process. These waves transport significant vertical momentum and energy. Thus body forcing is an effective mechanism for creating high-frequency waves with large vertical scales that can readily propagate into and may have appreciable effects at greater altitudes.