Noctilucent cloud variability and mean parameters from 15 years of lidar observations at a mid‐latitude site (54°N, 12°E)

Gerding, M.; Höffner, J.; Hoffmann, Peter; Kopp, M.; Lübken, Franz‐Josef

doi:10.1029/2012jd018319

Cited by 20 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…With a centroid altitude of 81.2 km, the observed NLC resides in the lower range of NLC centroid altitudes typical for midlatitudes. The mean centroid altitude of 82.3 km from 15 years of lidar measurements at 54 ∘ N by Gerding et al () is significantly higher than our observation, as is the altitude of 82.4 km extrapolated to 49 ∘ N from Chu et al (). With a maximum volume backscatter coefficient of β = 12 × 10 −10 m −1 sr −1 , the NLC is exceptionally bright given the latitude.…”

Section: Implications For Midlatitude Nlccontrasting

confidence: 76%

“…With a maximum volume backscatter coefficient of β = 12 × 10 −10 m −1 sr −1 , the NLC is exceptionally bright given the latitude. Gerding et al () listed only 0.1–0.5% of all NLC at 54 ∘ N to be as bright or brighter than 12 × 10 −10 m −1 sr −1 . At the same time, an enhanced brightness is in concordance with the low altitude, as is the low FWHM.…”

Section: Implications For Midlatitude Nlcmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mesospheric Temperature During the Extreme Midlatitude Noctilucent Cloud Event on 18/19 July 2016

Kaifler

Wilms

et al. 2018

JGR Atmospheres

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A rare noctilucent cloud (NLC) event was observed at 48.8∘ N, 13.7∘ E above GERman Experimental Seismic System station in southern Germany on 18/19 July 2016 using the Compact Rayleigh Autonomous Lidar. Strong southward winds due to a quasi 2‐day planetary wave allowed for the influx of mesospheric polar air to midlatitudes on this day. The NLC observed by lidar was preceded by strong NLC displays in Cloud Imaging and Particle Size (CIPS) Experiment satellite images above the North Sea and by strong mesospheric summer radar echoes 800 km north of the lidar site and was also observed visually in central Europe. The NLC occurred at low altitude and was bright and thin with strong oscillations in altitude and brightness. Darkness allowed for high‐resolution temperature measurements at NLC altitudes. The ice particles were embedded in the upper part of a cold region with temperatures below 150 K. Significantly higher temperatures were found directly above the cloud with large vertical temperature gradients of 25 K/km at the top boundary. Spectral analysis reveals that NLC particles existed within cold phases of gravity waves within a region of high static stability. In order to study the evolution of NLC brightness in this environment, we drive the microphysical model Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres with lidar temperature soundings. We find that NLC particles can survive and grow in the conditions defining this midlatitude event. We conclude that the ice particles did not nucleate at the site of observation but were meridionally transported and vertically confined to a thin layer due to a large vertical temperature gradient, wind reversal, and low levels of mesospheric turbulence.

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Section: Implications For Midlatitude Nlccontrasting

confidence: 76%

Section: Implications For Midlatitude Nlcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mesospheric Temperature During the Extreme Midlatitude Noctilucent Cloud Event on 18/19 July 2016

Kaifler

Wilms

et al. 2018

JGR Atmospheres

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“…The mean NLC altitude from LIMA/MIMAS in the late nineteenth century is somewhat higher (∼83.8 km, see Figure 3a). For example, (i) the variability of NLC altitudes in LIMA/MIMAS is approximately 0.6 km (2 value) for > 3, (ii) the triangulation of structures within an NLC leads to altitudes significantly lower than the height of max (Ridder et al, 2017), and (iii) the influence of tides may cause a systematic bias for NLC altitudes for an observer detecting at a fixed local time (Fiedler et al, 2005;Gerding et al, 2013). For example, (i) the variability of NLC altitudes in LIMA/MIMAS is approximately 0.6 km (2 value) for > 3, (ii) the triangulation of structures within an NLC leads to altitudes significantly lower than the height of max (Ridder et al, 2017), and (iii) the influence of tides may cause a systematic bias for NLC altitudes for an observer detecting at a fixed local time (Fiedler et al, 2005;Gerding et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The observational database on NLC/PMC including microphysical properties, variations with latitude and longitude, solar cycle, and tides has improved significantly in recent decades (see, e.g., Baumgarten et al, 2012;Fiedler et al, 2009;Gerding et al, 2013;Russell et al, 2015). The observational database on NLC/PMC including microphysical properties, variations with latitude and longitude, solar cycle, and tides has improved significantly in recent decades (see, e.g., Baumgarten et al, 2012;Fiedler et al, 2009;Gerding et al, 2013;Russell et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Anthropogenic Impact on Long‐Term Evolution of Noctilucent Clouds

Lübken

Berger

Baumgarten

2018

Geophysical Research Letters

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Little is known about climate change effects in the transition region between the Earth's atmosphere and space, roughly at 80–120 km. Some of the earliest observations in this region come from noctilucent clouds (NLC) at ∼83‐km altitude. There is a long‐standing dispute whether NLC are indicators of climate change. We use model simulations for a time period of 138 years to study the impact of increasing CO2 and H2O on the development of NLC on centennial time scales. Since the beginning of industrialization the water vapor concentration mixing ratio at NLC heights has increased by ∼40% (1 ppmv) due to methane increase, whereas temperatures are nearly constant. The H2O increase has led to a large enhancement of NLC brightness. NLC presumably existed centuries earlier, but the chance to observe them by the naked eye was extremely small before the twentieth century, whereas it is likely to see several NLC per season in the modern era.

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“…In 2010 the Leibniz‐Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) at Kühlungsborn (54°N, 12°E) complemented its suite of lidars for temperature and NLC soundings [e.g., von Zahn and Höffner , ; Gerding et al , , ] with a new, daytime‐capable Rayleigh‐Mie‐Raman lidar. This lidar is designed for temperature soundings up to 75km during day and 85km during night as well as NLC soundings during day and night.…”

Section: Instruments and Data Setsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diurnal variations of midlatitude NLC parameters observed by daylight‐capable lidar and their relation to ambient parameters

Gerding

Kopp

Hoffmann

et al. 2013

Geophysical Research Letters

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[1] Noctilucent Clouds (NLCs) are an important phenomenon of the summer mesopause region. While relatively common in high latitudes, NLCs are sparse (Ä 10% occurrence rate) below 60 ı latitude. We present the first study of diurnal variations of midlatitude NLCs based on lidar observations with full diurnal coverage at Kühlungsborn since 2010 independent from solar elevation. Overall, 100 h of NLCs with a backscatter coefficient ofˇm ax,532nm > 0.5 10 -10 m -1 sr -1 are observed within 1800 h. Occurrence rates decrease regularly from 12% at 5 local solar time (LST) to 2% at 19 LST. The mean NLC brightness varies between 1 and 3 10 -10 m -1 sr -1 with maxima at 4 and 18 LST. The simultaneously observed temperatures show a systematic (tidal) variation, but we do not find a direct relation to NLC rates. Comparing NLCs and ambient winds, we find strong indications for the meridional wind (advection) being the main driver for NLC occurrence above our site. Citation: Gerding, M., M. Kopp, P. Hoffmann, J. Höffner, and F.-J. Lübken (2013), Diurnal variations of midlatitude NLC parameters observed by daylight-capable lidar, and their relation to ambient parameters, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40,[6390][6391][6392][6393][6394]

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Noctilucent cloud variability and mean parameters from 15 years of lidar observations at a mid‐latitude site (54°N, 12°E)

Cited by 20 publications

References 67 publications

Mesospheric Temperature During the Extreme Midlatitude Noctilucent Cloud Event on 18/19 July 2016

Mesospheric Temperature During the Extreme Midlatitude Noctilucent Cloud Event on 18/19 July 2016

On the Anthropogenic Impact on Long‐Term Evolution of Noctilucent Clouds

Diurnal variations of midlatitude NLC parameters observed by daylight‐capable lidar and their relation to ambient parameters

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