Typhoon‐induced concentric airglow structures in the mesopause region

We present the first reported gravity wave patterns in the mesopause region caused by a typhoon in the troposphere. On 10 December 2002, concentric rings of gravity waves in OH airglow were observed simultaneously by all-sky imagers in the Optical Mesosphere and Thermosphere Imager system in Japan, located at Rikubetsu (43.5 degrees N, 143.8 degrees E), Shigaraki (34.9 degrees N, 136.1 degrees E), and Sata (31.0 degrees N, 130.7 degrees E). The airglow structures, which were well defined and formed a coherent wave pattern expanding concentrically, were identified over 8 h (2135-2947 LT). We estimate the horizontal wavelength, horizontal phase speed, and wave period as 34.5 km, 50.2 m s(-1), and 11.5 min, respectively. Infrared cloud images from the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite show that the center of the rings estimated from the airglow data corresponds to a spiral band of Typhoon Pongsona (T0226). This unique event provides new insight into coupling between the lower and upper atmosphere.