Signature of gravity wave propagations from the troposphere to ionosphere

Abstract

Abstract. We observed a gravity wave (GW) signature in the OH emission layer in the upper mesosphere, and 4 h later, a medium-scale travelling ionospheric disturbance (MSTID) in the OI 630 nm emission layer. Spectral analysis of the two waves showed that both have almost the same wave characteristics: wavelength, period, phase speed and propagation direction, respectively, 200 km, 60 min, 50 m s−1, toward the southeast. 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 ionospheric MSTID, the 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. 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.