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(Starfire Optical Range in New Mexico). The characteristics of inertial period
waves are an extension of the gravity wave dispersion relation and can be written
in the form
2
b
k
y
+
k
z
f
2
=
ω
2
ω
(6.9)
k
z
+
k
y
where we have taken
k
z
(
2
for an isothermal atmosphere (Eckart, 1960).
This is the lowest frequency wave in Fig. 6.4. Note that if
f
1
/
2
H
)
0 and
k
z
4
H
2
,
=
1
/
(6.8) becomes
b
k
y
k
z
+
2
ω
2
ω
=
(6.10)
k
y
which agrees with (6.8) and (6.9) for
f
0. By using the fact that the wind vector
rotated with altitude, Drummond et al. (2001) found that the wave responsible
for the trail shape in Fig. 6.6 had the properties of an inertial wave. In general,
an elliptical pattern arises for waves with
=
ω
i
=
2
π
f
<ω<ω
b
with the ratio of
Figure 6.6
Photo of a long-duration meteor trail 82 seconds after impact. The circular
feature shows that the wind rotates with altitude. Puffy areas are turbulent regions. The
arrow shows a laser beam. [After Kelley et al. (2003c). Reproduced with permission of
the American Geophysical Union.]
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