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Observations of Polar Mesospheric Clouds by the student nitric oxide explorer

, , , and . Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, 110 (D13): 13 (2005)Times Cited: 16 Cited References: BARTH CA, 1983, GEOPHYS RES LETT, V10, P237 BARTH CA, 2003, J GEOPHYS RES-SPACE, V108 CARBARY JF, 1999, J GEOPHYS RES-SPACE, V104, P10089 CARBARY JF, 2003, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, V108 CHU XZ, 2003, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, V108 DEBRESTIAN DJ, 1997, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, V102, P1971 DELAND MT, 2003, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, V108 ESPY PJ, 1997, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, V102, P1983 EVANS WFJ, 1995, GEOPHYS RES LETT, V22, P2793 GADSDEN M, 1990, J ATMOS TERR PHYS, V52, P247 HAURWITZ B, 1969, DEEP-SEA RES, V16, P85 HEDIN AE, 1991, J GEOPHYS RES, V96, P1159 HERVIG M, 2001, GEOPHYS RES LETT, V28, P971 HINES CO, 1965, PHYS EARTHS UPPER AT JENSEN EJ, 1988, J GEOPHYS RES, V93, P2461 JENSEN EJ, 1994, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOSP, V99, P3421 KEATON BF, 1996, TOPICS EMERGENCY MED, V18, P9 KIRKWOOD S, 2002, GEOPHYS RES LETT, V29 KIRKWOOD S, 2003, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, V108 LESLIE RJ, 1885, NATURE, V33, P245 LUBKEN FJ, 1999, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, V104, P9135 MERKEL AW, 2001, J GEOPHYS RES-SPACE, V106, P30283 MERKEL AW, 2002, THESIS U COLO BOULDE MERKEL AW, 2003, GEOPHYS RES LETT, V30 OLIVERO JJ, 1986, J ATMOS SCI, V43, P1263 RAPP M, 2002, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, V107 REID GC, 1989, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOSP, V94, P14653 RUSCH DW, 1991, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOSP, V96, P12933 SHETTLE EP, 2002, MES CLOUDS C BR ASTR SISKIND DE, 2003, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, V108 SISKIND DE, 2004, J ATMOS SOL-TERR PHY, V67, P501 STEVENS MH, 2001, GEOPHYS RES LETT, V28, P4449 STEVENS MH, 2003, GEOPHYS RES LETT, V30 SUGIYAMA T, 1996, GEOPHYS RES LETT, V23, P653 THAYER JP, 2003, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, V108 THOMAS GE, 1984, J ATMOS TERR PHYS, V46, P819 THOMAS GE, 1985, PLANET SPACE SCI, V33, P1209 THOMAS GE, 1989, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOSP, V94, P14673 THOMAS GE, 1991, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOSP, V96, P927 THOMAS GE, 1995, UPPER MESOSPHERE LOW, V87, P185 THOMAS GE, 2003, ADV SPACE RES, V32, P1737 TURCO RP, 1982, PLANET SPACE SCI, V30, P1147 VONCOSSART G, 1999, GEOPHYS RES LETT, V26, P1513 VONZAHN U, 1998, GEOPHYS RES LETT, V25, P1289.

Abstract

Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMCs) were observed by a limb-scanning ultraviolet spectrometer on the Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE). Radiance profiles at 215 and 237 nm are analyzed to determine the presence of clouds. Once detected, the altitude and brightness of a cloud relative to the background atmosphere is determined. SNOE observations provide the frequency of occurrence of PMC as a function of location and time for the years 1998 through 2003. The observations show at high latitudes a general rise in frequency of occurrence beginning approximately 3 weeks before summer solstice in both hemispheres and lasting for approximately 1 week. These rises are followed by approximately 60 days of relatively high but variable occurrence frequencies. The declines in frequency of occurrence at the ends of the seasons are generally slower and more structured then the beginning of the seasons. One of the major results from the SNOE observations is that significantly more PMCs are observed in the Northern Hemisphere than in the south, leading us to conclude that the southern polar mesosphere must be on average less saturated than the northern polar mesosphere. The SNOE observations also suggest that the frequency of occurrence of PMCs is strongly modulated by local dynamical influences. The SNOE results are in general agreement with results from the Solar Mesosphere Explorer which observed PMC with similar instrumentation in the years 1981 through 1986.

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Leo's paper references II

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