New Method Reveals Hidden Structures in Clear-Sky Vertical Motion

Editors’ Highlights are summaries of recent papers by AGU’s journal editors.

Source: AGU Advances

Despite being crucial to Earth’s weather and climate, measuring vertical velocity has long been challenging due to its small amplitude. Poujol and Bony [2024] propose a method to retrieve clear-sky vertical motions from geostationary satellite measurements of brightness temperature variations in the water vapor absorption band.

These new observations, with a high resolution of 1 hour in time and 2 kilometers in space, reveal a rich diversity in spatial patterns previously unseen. Contrary to the common perception of gently descending clear-sky atmosphere, they show highly heterogeneous vertical motions with transient ascents up to 100 hectopascals/day at mesoscales. Strong subsidence is also observed around organized deep convective systems within a few hundred kilometers. Gravity waves are suggested as the main cause of the observed vertical motions at the mesoscale, highlighting the need for further research on the role of gravity waves in shaping convective organization.

Citation: Poujol, B., & Bony, S. (2024). Measuring clear-air vertical motions from space. AGU Advances, 5, e2024AV001267. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024AV001267

—Sarah Kang, Editor, AGU Advances

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