Altitudes of polar mesospheric clouds observed by a middle ultraviolet imager

Details Altitudes of polar mesospheric clouds observed by a middle ultraviolet imager Altitudes of polar mesospheric clouds observed by a middle ultraviolet imager

May 1999

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999jgr...10410089c&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 104, Issue A5, p. 10089-10100

Other

20

Meteorology And Atmospheric Dynamics: Mesospheric Dynamics

Scientific paper

The first images of Earth limb in the middle ultraviolet (235-263 nm) have revealed in detail the altitude structures of polar mesospheric clouds (PMCs). The images were obtained from the Ultraviolet and Visible Imaging and Spectrographic Imaging (UVISI) instrument on the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) spacecraft during the austral summer of 1997-1998. The satellite made multiple passes over the Antarctic and obtained over 750 images of PMCs at latitudes poleward of 70°S. Even without correction for scene backgrounds, the imager easily observed PMCs distinct from the atmospheric backgrounds. The clouds appeared as discrete, filamentary structures having altitudes between 80 and 85 km, although most PMCs appeared at altitudes between 82.0 and 83.0 km with a mean of 82.3+/-0.8km. The clouds were randomly distributed on a trans-polar scale of ~1000 km, although in some instances the clouds clustered for distances of 200-300 km across the polar mesosphere. In other instances, PMCs were wholly absent on the mesospheric horizon. The imager also noted enhanced radiances on the topsides of the PMC altitude profiles; this excess radiance may be caused by ``subvisible'' particles not apparent at visible wavelengths. The PMC altitudes do not appear correlated with latitude or local time on the scale of the observations discussed here.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Altitudes of polar mesospheric clouds observed by a middle ultraviolet imager 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 Altitudes of polar mesospheric clouds observed by a middle ultraviolet imager, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Altitudes of polar mesospheric clouds observed by a middle ultraviolet imager will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1377624