Modeling Acoustic-Gravity Wave Propagation Using the Multi-Component Transport Equations
This presentation shares a collection of findings and insights from recent Ph.D. work focused on modeling acoustic and gravity wave propagation and their evolution in the thermosphere. A high-resolution, finite-volume simulation framework is introduced, based on the multi-component Navier–Stokes equations, and designed to resolve the transport of energy, momentum, and mass in neutral planetary atmospheres. The model captures nonlinear wave dynamics and includes detailed transport processes such as species-dependent diffusion, viscosity, and thermal conduction. The talk will discuss results from 1D and 2D simulations, the role of transport coefficients in wave dissipation, and the challenges of bridging high-fidelity simulations with large-scale atmospheric models. The goal is to offer perspective on small-scale wave dynamics in the thermosphere and encourage discussion across modeling approaches, including those used in global circulation models such as WACCM.
Benedict Pineyro recently completed his Ph.D. in Engineering Physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. His research focuses on the numerical and theoretical modeling of acoustic-gravity waves and transport phenomena in upper atmospheres. He has worked on problems related to energy dissipation, nonlinear wave dynamics, and multi-species diffusion, with applications to Earth and other planetary environments. He’s also spent time at Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs, and has an interest in connecting physical models across scales and disciplines.