Soaring to 100,000 ft on Stratospheric Mountain Waves

A research project now underway addresses the concept of utilizing stratospheric mountain waves to soar to high altitudes in sailplanes. Stratospheric mountain waves are mountain waves that propagate strongly, and with continuity, into the middle and upper stratosphere, and are not extinguished, trapped, or reflected at or near the tropopause. The historical experience of high-flying aircraft has been limited to the lower region of their domain, where large amplification leading to large vertical speeds and instability is uncommon. Amplification with increasing altitude, and the instability caused by this amplification, can lead to wave overturning, similar to waves breaking at the beach. Wave overturning originating from amplification has not been experienced by aircraft yet, as far as we know. The general impression of the stratosphere as an entirely quiet region is not, in general, justified.