Thermal Effects of Gravity Waves in Planetary Atmospheres

Abstract

Internal atmospheric acoustic‐gravity waves substantially drive the global dynamical, thermal, and compositional structure of planetary atmospheres. While the dynamical effects of acoustic‐gravity waves have been extensively studied, especially on Earth and Mars, their thermal effects are insufficiently explored in planetary atmospheres. The recent numerical study of Wang et al. (2026, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009513 ) investigates acoustic‐gravity wave heating with a steady‐state linear wave model of the Martian gravity waves. In this commentary, we will examine the importance of gravity wave effects, in particular, of wave thermal effects, putting this insufficiently explored topic into the broader context of mechanisms of wave‐induced thermal effects and discuss Wang et al. (2026, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009513 )'s results and their implications for planetary atmospheres.