GENERAL COMMENTS

This paper presents the first ground-based lidar observations of noctilucent clouds (NLC) at non-polar latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. Although satellite observations typically show lower occurrence frequency and brightness for Southern Hemisphere NLCs compared to Northern Hemisphere NLCs at comparable latitudes, the authors collected enough observations over seven summer seasons to perform some statistical analysis. A key result is that lidar temperature data collected on nights with no NLC present typically show background temperatures well above NLC formation temperatures at cloud altitudes (82-85 km), although day-to-day variability is noted to be quite large. Thus, additional influences such as gravity waves and meridional transport from polar latitudes must be significant factors in SH mid-latitude NLC occurrence.

The paper is well-written and convincing. I have only a few minor comments.

SPECIFIC COMMENTS

Page 9, lines 169-171: Now that you have demonstrated the ability to visually identify NLCs at Southern Hemisphere mid-latitudes, have you considered trying to recruit volunteer observers at appropriate locations in Argentina to supplement your measurements?

Page 12, lines 205-208: You have noted that your NLC observations are influenced by special conditions (e.g. gravity waves, meridional transport). Are there reasons to believe that these conditions would consistently produce higher altitudes and larger vertical extent for NLC?

Page 12, lines 210-212: Local time dependence is certainly present in Northern Hemisphere lidar NLC data, with peak occurrence frequency and brightness in the early morning [e.g. Fiedler et al., 2017, J. Atmos. Solar-Terr. Phys. 162, 79-89].

Page 17, lines 279-280: You may wish to note that the response of NLCs to solar variations has been significantly reduced since the early 2000s, as discussed in some recent papers [e.g. Hervig et al., 2019, Geophys. Res. Lett. 46, 10,132-10,139; Vellalassery et al., 2023, Ann. Geophys. 41, 289-300].

Page 17, lines 297-299: Previous studies do show the complex nature of possible attribution of NLC formation (or enhancement) to rocket exhaust. However, given the unfavorable normal background conditions at this location, episodic water vapor enhancement is certainly a viable option, and may be worth investigation for selected cases.

Page 18, line 319: “dislays” should be “displays”.