PACOG is a project within the Research Unit "MS-GWaves" which is dedicated to the general study of gravity waves. PACOG concentrates on atmospheric observations and comparison with models. Gravity waves play a key role in our understanding of the middle atmosphere since they drive the atmosphere away from radiatively determined conditions by up to 100~K and impose drastic changes on circulation systems and composition. They are the most important coupling mechanism from below to above. Unfortunately, many processes related to gravity waves are not well understood. This concerns, for example, generation, propagation, filtering, dissipation as well as seasonal and temporal variability. We intend to study the climatology of gravity waves on regional and global scales, and also their relevance for global processes. We will apply a combination of sophisticated and comprehensive instrumentation (lidars, radars, sensors on satellites, etc.) and will interpret our measurements with the help of related simulations based on reanalysis data. The final aim of MS-GWaves is to improve the parametrization of gravity waves used in global models. Observations performed in PACOG shall be used in all projects of MS-GWaves, for example when comparing local and regional measurements with global observations from satellites (SV project) or as benchmark tests for the validation of modeling in the 3DMSD and GWING projects.
DFG Programme
Research Units
International Connection
USA
