The Role of Gravity Wave Induced Drag and Diffusion in the Momentum Budget of the Mesosphere

Abstract

A slight modification of the parameterization suggested by Lindzen (1981) for the zonal drag and eddy diffusion effects generated by breaking internal gravity waves in the mesosphere is tested using a severely truncated midlatitude β-plane channel model. It is found that realistic mean zonal flow profiles with zonal wind reversals above the mesopause can be simulated for both winter and summer radiative heating conditions provided that a gravity-wave spectrum is assumed which includes both stationary waves and waves of relatively large phase speeds (∼ ±20 m s⁻¹). These results contrast greatly with the unrealistic mean wind profiles produced when Rayleigh friction is used to parameterize the effects of small scale motions on the mean flow.