Noctilucent cloud in the western Arctic in 2005: Simultaneous lidar and camera observations and analysis |
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| Authors: | RL Collins MJ Taylor K Nielsen K Mizutani Y Murayama K Sakanoi MT DeLand |
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| Institution: | 1. Geophysical Institute and Atmospheric Sciences Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA;2. Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences and Department of Physics, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA;3. Environment Sensing and Network Group, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Tokyo, Japan;4. Department of Natural Sciences, Komazawa University, Tokyo, Japan;5. Science Systems and Applications Inc., Lanham, MD, USA;1. University of Alaska, Fairbanks, USA;2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA;3. University of Rostock, Kuehlungsborn, Germany;4. University of Rostock, Kuehlungsborn, Germany;5. University of Colorado, Boulder, USA;1. Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 1 Silverstein, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104;2. Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 1 Silverstein, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104;3. Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 1 Silverstein, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104;1. Soft Computing Research Group, Faculty of Computing, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor, Malaysia;2. School of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia;1. Mesoscopic and Multilayers Structures Laboratory, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 479 Dschang, Cameroon;2. Laboratory of Electronics and Signal Processing, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67 Dschang, Cameroon;1. Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium;2. Belgian Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Materials (ONDRAF/NIRAS), Avenue des Arts 14, 1210 Brussels, Belgium |
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| Abstract: | We report observations of a noctilucent cloud (NLC) over central Alaska by a ground-based lidar and camera on the night of 9–10 August 2005. The lidar at Poker Flat Research Range (PFRR), Chatanika (65°N, 147°W) measured a maximum integrated backscatter coefficient of 2.4×10?6 sr?1 with a peak backscatter coefficient of 2.6×10?9 m?1 sr?1 corresponding to an aerosol backscatter ratio of 120 at an altitude of 82.1 km. The camera at Donnelly Dome, 168 km southeast of PFRR, recorded an extensive NLC display across the sky with distinct filamentary features corresponding to wave structures measured by the lidar. The occurrence of the maximum integrated backscatter coefficient corresponded to the passage of a bright cloud band to the southwest over PFRR. The camera observations indicate that the cloud band had a horizontal width of 50 km and a length of 150 km. The horizontal scale of the cloud band was confirmed by medium-frequency radar wind measurements that reported mesopause region winds of 30 m/s to the southwest during the period when the cloud band passed over PFRR. Comparison of these measurements with current NLC microphysical models suggests a lower bound on the water vapor mixing ratio at 83 km of 7–9 ppmv and a cloud ice mass of 1.5–1.8×103 kg. Satellite measurements show that this NLC display occurred during a burst of cloud activity that began on 5 August and lasted for 10 days. This cloud appeared 10 days after a launch of the space shuttle. We discuss the appearance of NLCs in August over several years at this lower polar latitude site in terms of planetary wave activity and space shuttle launches. |
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