Inertially Unstable Temperature Structures in the Middle Atmosphere: A Re-examination

Recent work by Hayashi and collaborators has demonstrated that inertially unstable temperature structures predicted by theory can be identified in time-averaged, vertically filtered CLAES satellite data in both the equatorial and mid-latitude stratopause region. Their work expands upon previous work performed with time-averaged but unfiltered LIMS data, in which the mid-latitude signature was not evident.

To reconcile these differences, in this presentation LIMS data are re-examined for the periods in which inertial instability has been previously identified. Using filtering methods similar to Hayashi et al., it is shown that mid-latitude inertial instability signatures are indeed present in LIMS as well as CLAES data.

Furthermore, daily LIMS data are studied for inertial instability signatures on very short time scales. Vertical filtering reveals the presence of stacked "pancakes" throughout the equatorial middle atmosphere, suggestive of modeling studies of inertial instability.

The LIMS and CLAES inertial instability episodes are also linked to very similar tropospheric dynamical patterns, implying strong troposphere-middle atmosphere dynamical coupling.

These new results support the interpretation of inertial instability as a recurring synoptic-dynamic phenomenon coupling the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere that is identifiable in satellite data on short time and space scales.