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An ocean wave is a type of gravity wave. The simplest examples of gravity waves are familiar small ripples in a pond or large waves in the ocean. Because the atmosphere becomes less dense with altitude, it too can support gravity waves, but atmospheric gravity waves spread both upward and outward. Gravity waves that form on the leeward (downwind) side of mountains are known as mountain waves. Using observations from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on NASA's Aqua satellite, researchers are learning that these mountain waves travel high up into the atmosphere, triggered by topography at the Earth's surface. [Source: NASA Climate Change News]
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