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 (31.8°S, 69.3°W), during the night of 17–18 March 2016. 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 southeast of the observation site. The nightglow, including the wave structures, was easily visible to naked eye observers, a phenomenon known as a Bright Night. Such “extreme events” illuminate the important role of upward coupling in space weather research.

中文翻译：

---

中层重力波动量通量与大型雷暴情结相关

我们报告了与2016年3月17日至18日夜间在阿根廷El Leoncito天文台（31.8°S，69.3°W）上发生的广泛而明亮的中层重力波事件相关的水平动量的垂直通量的估计值。结合地面和空间数据源，我们建议该事件是由位于观测点东南部的一个大型且遥远的雷暴复杂区产生的。包括波浪结构的夜光很容易被肉眼观察者看到，这种现象被称为“明亮的夜晚”。这种“极端事件”阐明了空间天气研究中向上耦合的重要作用。