Our numerical simulation shows that the drag due to the dissipation and/or breaking of the gravity wave plays an important role in the general circulation in the thermosphere. This means that the parameterization for the gravity wave drag is necessary for numerical simulation in the thermosphere.

Present work reports seasonal characteristics of small- and medium-scale gravity waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region. All-sky images of the hydroxyl airglow emission layer over São João do Cariri (7.4° S, 36.5° W) were observed from September 2000 to December 2010, during a total of 1496 nights and obtained 2343 SSGW and 537 MSGW events. The horizontal propagation directions of SSGWs and MSGWs showed clear seasonal variations based on the influence of the wind filtering process.

On 3 October 2005, a mesospheric front was observed over São João do Cariri (7.4° S, 36.5° W) propagating to the northeast in the OH airglow images. One and a half hours later, it disappeared completely and ripples were observed in the eastern part of the images. After studying the background atmosphere, the main conclusion of this work was that the instability in the airglow layer did not allow the propagation of the front to the other side of the local zenith.

This article presents characteristics of periodic waves observed in the thermosphere from airglow images collected in the Northeast of Brazil. Using simultaneous measurements of the background wind in the airglow emission altitudes, it was possible to estimate the intrinsic parameters and the role of the wind in the propagation of the waves into the thermosphere. An anisotropy in the propagation direction of the waves was observed and it could be explained by the wind filtering process.

Periodic waves have been observed over São João do Cariri during almost one solar cycle. Similarities between the characteristics of these events with observations at other places around the world were noted, primarily the spectral parameters. Most observed waves have appeared during magnetically quiet nights, and the occurrence of those waves followed the solar activity. Due to their characteristics, most of them must have had different generation mechanisms from the Perkins instability.

This paper reports two consecutive mesospheric bores observed in the airglow emissions (OH and OI5577). Both bores propagated to the east and showed similar spectral characteristics. However, the first one exhibited a dark leading front with several trailing waves behind and progressed into a brighter airglow region. However, the second bore, observed in the OH layer, was comprised of several bright waves propagating into a darker airglow region.