Evidence for bimodal particle distribution from the spectra of polar mesospheric clouds

Details Evidence for bimodal particle distribution from the spectra of polar mesospheric clouds Evidence for bimodal particle distribution from the spectra of polar mesospheric clouds

Jul 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004georl..3113108c&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 31, Issue 13, CiteID L13108

Other

10

Atmospheric Composition And Structure: Aerosols And Particles (0345, 4801), Atmospheric Composition And Structure: Middle Atmosphere-Composition And Chemistry, Atmospheric Composition And Structure: Transmission And Scattering Of Radiation

Scientific paper

The spectrographic imagers on the MSX satellite have made the first observations of the middle ultraviolet spectra (200-315 nm) of polar mesospheric clouds (PMCs). Dividing the PMC spectra by the solar spectrum yields a scattering spectrum expressible as a matrix-vector formalism of Mie scattering functions and the particle distribution. Using this formalism, PMC particle distributions are related to the observed scattering spectrum. The scattering spectrum always exhibits a peculiar ``hump'' at ~260 nm that cannot be explained by any effect other than the particle distribution. A lognormal distribution of small particles (mode ~ 50 nm) produces the overall shape of the spectrum but not the ``hump.'' Although not unique, a simple bimodal distribution of small particles (r ~ 50 nm) and large particles (r ~ 200 nm) describes the scattering spectrum and its hump very well. The clouds may therefore consist of two different populations, as suggested by some models of the clouds. Numerically, smaller particles dominate by about 10:1, but the larger particles strongly influence the scattering spectrum.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Evidence for bimodal particle distribution from the spectra of polar mesospheric clouds does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Evidence for bimodal particle distribution from the spectra of polar mesospheric clouds, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Evidence for bimodal particle distribution from the spectra of polar mesospheric clouds will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1009842