What Is Gravity Wave?
A wave in the air, like ripples on a pond, that forms when stable air is pushed up or down and gravity pulls it back. In technical terms: A wave in a stably stratified fluid with buoyancy as the restoring force, oscillating at frequencies up to the Brunt-Vaisala frequency; mesoscale gravity waves can produce pressure jumps of several hPa, wind gusts, and banded precipitation, and orographic gravity waves form downstream of mountains.
Also called: Buoyancy Wave, Internal Gravity Wave
Gravity Wave In Plain English
A wave in the air, like ripples on a pond, that forms when stable air is pushed up or down and gravity pulls it back.
The Technical Definition
A wave in a stably stratified fluid with buoyancy as the restoring force, oscillating at frequencies up to the Brunt-Vaisala frequency; mesoscale gravity waves can produce pressure jumps of several hPa, wind gusts, and banded precipitation, and orographic gravity waves form downstream of mountains.
