Signature of gravity wave propagations from the troposphere to ionosphere

Abstract

We observed a gravity wave (GW) signature in the OH emission layer in the upper mesosphere, and 4h later, a medium-scale travelling ionospheric disturbance (MSTID) in the OI 630nm 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, 200km, 60min, 50ms-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 140km 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 630nm 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.