Gravity Waves

Gravity waves are similar to ocean waves, except they move through air instead of water. The waves are caused by some sort of atmospheric disturbance such as an updraft or wind shear and then spread out from the disturbance much like ripples move across water when the surface is disrupted.¹

Fast Facts

1. Gravity waves become weaker as they travel further from the initial disturbance²
2. A tornado may form when a gravity wave travels over a thunderstorm and compresses it, causing the storm to rotate faster¹
3. The force of gravity causes the wave of air to keep moving¹
4. Gravity waves become visible when they move through cloudy skies
5. Strong gravity waves may cause thunderstorms³

Cause

Gravity waves are formed when something, such as a mountain or storm causes air to be pushed upward. Gravity waves will only form when the air is forced upwards into a mass of stable air. The stable air pushes the upward-moving air back down, but the air continues to try to move upward. This back and forth momentum between the two air masses creates a gravity wave.²

Categories