Travelers In The Night

Atmospheric gravity waves can be powerful. In September of 2018 two glider pilots surfed an atmospheric gravity wave created by high speed polar winds as they encounter the Andes mountains. Amazingly their unpowered aircraft reached an altitude of more than 76,000 feet on a wave which itself can travel to more than 100,000 feet above sea level . By studying atmospheric gravity waves generated by tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis scientists hope we may be able to mitigate the disasters that these events can cause.