Global Images of Polar Mesospheric Clouds From the SNOE Spacecraft

Details Global Images of Polar Mesospheric Clouds From the SNOE Spacecraft Global Images of Polar Mesospheric Clouds From the SNOE Spacecraft

May 2001

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001agusm..sa22a01m&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2001, abstract #SA22A-01

Mathematics

Logic

0300 Atmospheric Composition And Structure, 3332 Mesospheric Dynamics

Scientific paper

Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMC) have been observed from several spacecraft over the last three decades. These experiments have shown the seasonal behavior of PMCs and have provided some morphological information. The Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) has been observing PMCs since 1998 and has successfully measured six PMC seasons. SNOE is a spinning satellite in a sun-synchronous near-polar orbit at 10:30 am/pm local time. SNOE has a significant advantage over its predecessors in that it is able to observe PMCs globally each day. In the summer seasons, the Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS) limb measurements include detections of PMCs around 83 km. Because SNOE orbits the earth 15 times a day, it obtains global coverage of the mesosphere. By combining the 15 orbits, we can produce daily global images of PMC observation frequency and UV scattering ratio. The SNOE measurements show that PMCs start to form at high latitudes (75 degrees and higher) in the beginning of the PMC season, three weeks before summer solstice. By the middle of the season, PMCs form globally down to 50 degrees in latitude and then recede back to higher latitudes in the latter part of the season. The daily images, shown in a movie format, show the day-to-day variability in latitude and longitude of the PMC occurrences. The images suggest the influence of dynamics on the creation and destruction of PMCs. Case studies of several 5-10 day periods show a westward movement of PMC formation with the suggestion of wave structure.

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