Interferometry Observations of the Gravity Wave Effect on the Sporadic E Layer
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This manuscript presents the observations about the effects of upward propagating gravity waves on the spatial structures and dynamic behavior of the 3-m field aligned irregularities (FAIs) of the sporadic E (Es) layer. The authors suggest that a thin Es layer can be severely modulated by the gravity wave and present some interesting features according to interferometry analysis. Although the observations are very impressive, I have some concerns regarding this manuscript. Minor revision is necessary before the manuscript getting published.
Line 26: The value of Doppler velocity shear about the Es FAIs is inconsistent with Line 454 (68m/s/km), which is the true Doppler velocity shear of the Es FAIs?
Line 69-70: The reference mentioned here should be associated with the gravity wave effect on the ionospheric Es layer, the [28] seems irrelevant to the subject.
Line 71: Change “Qp” to “quasi-periodic (Qp)”.
Line 73: Change “KH” to “Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH)”.
Line 95: Change “we will provide observational…” to “the observational evidences are provided to associate the Es plasma structure...”.
Line 226: The font of “Es” is inconsistent with others.
Line 228: Change “we reconstruct three …” to “three dimensional spatial structures of the FAIs echo regions are reconstructed to ….”.
Line 231: Change “pattern” to “patterns”.
Line 252: Change “We will show…” to “the major causes of …will be showed in the later section.”.
Line 319: Delete “irregularities” and change “FAI” to “FAIs”.
Line 340: Delete “irregularities” and change “FAI” to “FAIs”.
Line 378: Delete “irregularities” and change “FAI” to “FAIs”.
Line 380: Delete “irregularities” and change “FAI” to “FAIs”.
Line 399: Delete “irregularities” and change “FAI” to “FAIs”.
Line 401: Delete “irregularities” and change “FAI” to “FAIs”.
Line 421: Change “FIAs” to “FAIs”.
Line 438: Delete “50. Huang and Kelley”.
Line 442: Delete “Bernhardt”.
Line 444: Change “He” to “Bernhardt”.
Line 474: Change “Figure 11” to “Figure 10”.
Line 482: Change “Figure 11” to “Figure 10”.
There is no much problem with grammar and wording on the whole, some sentences are not strict enough, as pointed out in the review.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
This paper provides a detailed study of upward propagating GW impact on the fine structures of Es layer by VHF radar in a low-latitude location. They found that this 46-min period GW can disturb the Es layer vertically in 10-km, which is much more than the traditionally thought that 2-4 km vertical height of Es. Additionally, a sharp inclines fine structure related to FAI was observed. Moreover, the sharp doppler velocity shear was also observed. The paper is well organized and the process are provided in detail. I recommend the paper to be published after minor revision
In the introduction, the author shall acknowledge the close relation between Es and sporadic metal layer since there are many studies reporting the simultaneously observation of them
Cai, X., Yuan, T., Eccles, J. V., & Raizada, S. (2019). Investigation on the distinct nocturnal secondary sodium layer behavior above 95 km in winter and summer over Logan, UT (41.7°N, 112°W) and Arecibo Observatory, PR (18.3°N, 67°W). Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 124, 9610– 9625. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JA026746
Yuan, T., Wang, J., Cai, X., Sojka, J., Rice, D., Oberheide, J., and Criddle, N. (2014), Investigation of the seasonal and local time variations of the high-altitude sporadic Na layer (Nas) formation and the associated midlatitude descending E layer (Es) in lower E region, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics, 119, 5985– 5999, doi:10.1002/2014JA019942.
Delgado, R., Friedman, J. S., Fentzke, J. T., Raizada, S., Tepley, C. A., & Zhou, Q. (2012). Sporadic metal atom and ion layers and their connection to chemistry and thermal structure in the mesopause region at Arecibo. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 74, 11–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2011.09.00
Dou, X. K., Xue, X. H., Li, T., Chen, T. D., Chen, C., & Qiu, S. C. (2010). Possible relations between meteors, enhanced electron density layers, and sporadic sodium layers. Journal of Geophysical Research, 115, A06311. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JA014575
Line 16 you mean northeast to northwest??
Es is also observed by low-earth-orbiting satellite. The ref 1-7 in the old version mention the paper using satellite, so please add satellite in line 35
Line 210 the range Is height?
Line 211 remove ‘for the period’
Line 212 remove ‘As shown’
Line 220-221 you mean the strong signal? Had better give the ranges since you are able to do so
Line 223 what is the amplitude?
minor english correction needed
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Major comments:
Based on the interferometry measurement made with the Chung-Li VHF radar, the authors investigated the effects of upward propagating gravity waves on the spatial structures and dynamic behavior of the 3-m field aligned irregularities (FAIs) of the sporadic E (Es) layer. Although the results in this paper are very similar to the simulation results of the Es modulated by gravity waves, the conclusion that the wave characteristics of the FAI are connected with the upward gravity waves still lacks strong evidence.
Line 65: The author and year of the citation should be added. There are so many
errors in citation format. The author should carefully check this manuscript and correct all such errors.
Line 123: d12, d13, d23 should be labeled in Figure 1.
Line 243-245: How the descend rate is calculated?
Line 246-247: Please explain what is the prominent quasi-periodical variations of Doppler velocities of Es FAI echoes.
The label of 2018-07-03，19：54：13 LT T in Figure9(a) and 2018-07-03，21：38：42 LT T in Figure 9(c) should be corrected.
Minor comments:
line 26: “have widely been used” should be changed as “have been widely used”
Line 122-123: “The side lengths of the triangle are, respectively, d12 = d13 = 37.1 m and d23 = 18 m” should be changed as “The side lengths of the triangle are, d12 = d13 = 37.1 m and d23 = 18 m, respectively”
Line 198: “the range resolution 1.2 km” should be changed as “a range resolution of 1.2 km”
Line 279: “respectively, 55.8 m/s and 16.7 m/s” should be changed as “ 55.8 m/s and 16.7 m/s, respectively”
Extensive editing of English language required
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
the author has answered all my concerns.
Author Response
Thank you.
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments
The authors already address most my comments in last reviewing through modification or illustration suitably. the manuscript can be accepted after a minor revision.
1. There are still many citation errors in the manuscript, such as line 160, 437, 451. The authors should carefully check the manuscript, and correct all errors.
2. The author should give more evidences to support the gravity wave theory.
No
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx
