Global Atmospheric Oscillation in Geopotential Fields of the Free Atmosphere

Abstract

Abstract The three-dimensional structure of geopotential anomalies arising in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere during a Global Atmospheric Oscillation (GAO) is studied. It was previously detected in temperature and pressure fields. It has been established that these anomalies have a high statistical significance. This serves as another formal evidence of the GAO authenticity. In the troposphere (850–100 hPa) and in the lower stratosphere (100–10 hPa) the structure of GAO substantially changes in comparison with the near-surface fields, gradually acquiring a zonal character. Apparently, this is due to the fact that the atmospheric polar tide, caused by the Chandler wobble of the Earth’s poles and lunar-solar nutation, bends around the Earth almost unhindered, experiencing only a small topographical impact from the continents.