First imaging observation of the gravity waves in the mesopause region in China

The first imaging observation experiment of the atmospheric gravity waves in the mesopause region with the all-sky OH* Meinel band airglow CCD imager is made during 02:00 to 06:00 on January 5, 2009, at Hancun (39.4°N, 116.6°E), Langfang, Hebei in China. Quasi-monochromatic gravity waves (QMGWs) are found clearly in the observation data. Case studies show that their horizontal wavelengths, horizontal phase velocities, azimuth angles of horizontal propagation directions and periods of three QMGW examples are about 12.3 km, 41 m/s, 327°, 5 min; 25 km, 35 m/s, 68°, 12 min; and 10 km, 48 m/s, 341°, 3.5 min respectively.