Reply on RC1

Abstract

We observed a gravity wave (GW) signature in the OH emission layer in the upper mesosphere, and 4 hours later, a medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbance (MSTID) in the OI 630 nm emission layer. Spectral analysis of the two waves did show that both have the same wave characteristics: wavelength, period, phase speed and propagation direction, respectively, 200 km, 60 min, 50 m/s, propagating southeastward. During the MSTID occurrence, concentric wavefronts were also observed in the ionosphere by detrended total electron content (dTEC) maps. From the gravity wave ray-tracing simulation for the mesospheric gravity wave, we found that the wave came from a tropospheric deep convection spot and propagated up to the 140 km altitude. Regarding the same wave characteristics between mesospheric GW and MSTID, two possible cases are investigated: a direct influence of the GW oscillation in the OI 630 nm emission height and the generation of a secondary wave during the GW breaking process. The concentric wave structure suggests the generation of a secondary wave after the primary wave was dissipated in the lower thermosphere. This is the first time to report an observational event of gravity wave propagation from the troposphere, mesosphere to thermosphere-ionosphere in the south American region.