Solar cycle modulation of the winter stratosphere: The role of atmospheric gravity waves Original Research Article

Atmospheric gravity waves play an important role in driving the climate of the middle atmosphere away from radiative equilibrium. Deposition rates depend on source strengths and the profile of the background winds. Observations have indicated that the gravity wave flux can be influenced by solar activity variations. A mechanistic, three-dimensional model of the middle atmosphere has been used to demonstrate that relatively modest changes to the gravity wave drag can significantly increase the Northern Hemisphere polar winter stratospheric response to perturbations in solar heating due to non-linear dynamical interactions.