Gravity Waves: Gravity Waves Excited by Jets and Fronts

Jets and fronts are known to be significant sources of gravity waves. This has been shown by numerous studies with real-data observations and/or numerical models. Case studies have highlighted the jet exit region as particularly favorable to low-frequency gravity waves. They have also identified wave ducting as a key maintenance mechanism for waves propagating over long distances near the ground. A number of observational studies also hypothesized that the primary mechanism for wave generation in the jet exit region is geostrophic adjustment, which has been recently generalized to the concept of spontaneous balance adjustment. However, the precise mechanisms responsible for the generation of these waves remain an active area of research. Further research remains necessary to draw a more complete picture of waves in the vicinity of jets and fronts, assessing the relevance of theoretical results on one hand, and the importance of other factors that contribute to the gravity waves, in particular moist processes and topography.