The Stratospheric Tidal Jet

Abstract

Rotation of the earth introduces a diurnal perturbation into the heating experienced by the ozonosphere through absorption of solar ultraviolet radiant energy. This diurnal heat wave induces perturbations in the stratospheric wind field which are principally meridional at low latitudes and are largely zonal at high latitudes. This asymmetric situation is shown to power a tidal-type circulation system which has its maximum strength in the high latitude nighttime upper mesosphere of the summer hemisphere. This ?stratospheric tidal jet? is zonal as it skirts the periphery of the continuously heated polar region, and presumably serves to transport and mix the summer mesosphere as well as provide the vertical flow required for formation of noctilucent clouds.