SA008-0023
Mesospheric Gravity Wave Momentum Flux Associated With a Thunderstorm Complex

Wednesday, 9 December 2020
Poster
Steven Michael Smith1, Martin Setvák2, Yuri Beletsky3, Jeffrey L Baumgardner4 and Michael Mendillo4, (1)Boston University, Boston, MA, United States, (2)Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Prague, Czech Republic, (3)Las Campanas Observatory, La Serena, Chile, (4)Boston University, Center for Space Physics, Boston, MA, United States
Abstract:
We report on estimates of the vertical flux of horizontal momentum associated with an extensive and bright mesospheric gravity wave event that occurred over the El Leoncito Observatory, Argentina (31.8ºS, 69.3ºW) during the night of 17–18 March 2016. The wave structures in the nightglow were easily visible to naked eye observers, a phenomenon known as a Bright Night. Using a combination of ground-based and space-based data sources, we propose that the event was generated by a large and distant thunderstorm complex located to the south-east of the observation site. Such “extreme events” illuminate the important role of upward coupling in space weather research.
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