Internal gravity waves in the troposphere

A technique for passive space sensing of the atmosphere in infrared and microwave ranges is discussed. The result of analysis of the sensing is the discovery of internal gravity waves (IGW) in the troposphere. It is possible now to investigate experimentally the infrasonic IGW with frequencies lower than 4 × 10−5 Hz. Waves, looking like reflections of IGW, were found in the initial part of the tropopause and were named mirror waves (MW). The conditions for MW formation are discussed. IGW and MW have been simulated numerically. Meteorological events, explosives, and seismic activity may excite IGW and MW. Diagrams of IGW and MW during the Japan earthquake of 2011 are shown. The pre-earthquake region with a high seismic activity is found from which infrared acoustic waves entered the atmosphere. © 2014, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.