Numerical modeling of mesospheric mountain wave propagation observed in Southern Argentina during the SOUTHTRAC campaign

We present numerical simulations of a deep orographic gravity wave (GW) event observed by the ALIMA airborne lidar on 11-12 September 2019 over Southern Argentina. The measurements are taken from the 2019 SOUTHTRAC Campaign, employing a comprehensive suite of remote sensing and in-situ instruments onboard the HALO research aircraft to study the stratospheric GW hotspot over Tierra del Fuego and the Antarctic Peninsula. Wind conditions on 11-12 September exhibit local and large-scale directional shear from the ground to the polar night jet, creating a complex propagation environment supporting multiple orientations of GW propagation and strong potential for local GW breaking and secondary GW generation. Using high resolution numerical models, we simulate the 3D evolution of the orographic GW field to analyze the remote sensing and in-situ measurements from the event.