A nighttime satellite image has revealed atmospheric gravity waves generated by Super Typhoon Sinlaku as it moved across the western Pacific Ocean. The image captures rippling patterns spreading through the upper atmosphere, offering a striking example of how powerful weather systems can influence conditions far above the clouds visible from Earth’s surface.
Atmospheric gravity waves form when air is displaced and gravity attempts to restore equilibrium, creating oscillations that can travel long distances through the atmosphere. In this case, the intense convection associated with Sinlaku produced waves that propagated upward into the mesosphere, where they became visible through subtle variations in airglow. Scientists used a combination of satellite observations to document the phenomenon and better understand how tropical cyclones interact with atmospheric processes at multiple altitudes.
Such observations help researchers improve models of atmospheric dynamics and weather forecasting. By studying the relationship between severe storms and upper-atmosphere conditions, scientists gain insight into the movement of energy through the atmosphere and the broader impacts of tropical cyclones beyond their immediate weather hazards. The image also demonstrates the growing value of satellite systems that combine meteorological, climate and atmospheric-science observations into a more complete picture of Earth’s environment.
Image Credit: Image by Michala Garrison, using VIIRS day-night band data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), and AIRS data from Hoffmann, L.
