STUDIES ON GRAVITY WAVES IN THE MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE

The recent advances in the studies on gravity waves in the middle atmosphere are reviewed. An introduction to the historical background on anomalous temperature distribution in the mesosphere leads to the following three aspects of gravity wave studies:(1) observations and analysis of gravity waves, (2) generations, propagations and gravity wave-mean flow interactions, (3) gravity waves breaking and its parameterization in general circulation models. Finally serveral issues for the future research are proposed.