Noctilucent clouds: modern ground-based photographic observations by a digital camera network

Dubietis, A.; Dalin, Peter; Balčiūnas, Ričardas; Cernis, K.; Pertsev, N. N.; Sukhodoev, V. A.; Perminov, V. I.; Zalcik, Mark; Zadorozhny, A. M.; Connors, Martin; Schofield, Ian; McEwan, Tom; McEachran, I.; Frandsen, S.; Hansen, O.; Andersen, Henrik L.; Grønne, Jesper; Melnikov, D.V.; Manevich, A.G.; Romejko, V.

doi:10.1364/ao.50.000f72

Cited by 30 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The total visual horizontal extension of the soliton was about 322 km, and its width was in the range of 3.3–5.2 km. These parameters are similar to the ones previously estimated for the huge soliton in NLCs as observed from Lithuania [ Dubietis et al ., ]. The red short lines show small‐scale gravity waves with wavelengths of 9–12 km, and long red curves indicate the position of the two long bands clearly seen at the horizon in the NLC field in Figure .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First common volume ground‐based and space measurements of the mesospheric front in noctilucent clouds

Dalin

Connors

Schofield

et al. 2013

Geophysical Research Letters

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We report on the first common volume ground‐based and space measurements of the mesospheric front in noctilucent clouds (NLCs). The detailed ground‐based observations were performed with automated digital cameras located at the Athabasca University Geophysical Observatory (Canada) on the night of 29–30 June 2012, while simultaneous space measurements were conducted onboard the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite using the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry instrument. The large temperature difference of 20–25 K between two different air masses at about 85 km altitude was responsible for the front jump separating the area filled with NLCs from the area with no NLCs. The front jump (soliton) had a pronounced elevation of 12 km up to the altitude of 96 km relative to the undisturbed NLC layer located between 84.5 and 86.3 km. Considering present and previous ground‐based measurements of the NLC height, we conclude that altitude of 96–97 km is the upper limit of possible heights of NLCs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First common volume ground‐based and space measurements of the mesospheric front in noctilucent clouds

Dalin

Connors

Schofield

et al. 2013

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…The methodology and data sets of ground-based NLC observations in Moscow (Russia), Vilnius (Lithuania), and La Ronge (Canada) are outlined in papers by Romejko et al (2002), Romejko et al (2003), Dubietis et al (2010), Dubietis et al (2011), andZalcik et al (2014). All three databases were published and discussed previously but never were considered together.…”

Section: Long-term Ground-based Nlc Observations: Variables Time Sermentioning

confidence: 99%

Noctilucent clouds observed from the ground: sensitivity to mesospheric parameters and long-term time series

et al. 2014

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Long-term systematic observations of noctilucent clouds in the regions of Moscow (Russia), Vilnius (Lithuania), and La Ronge (Canada) are considered. Variables, describing the seasonal activity of noctilucent clouds, are discussed. It is shown that there are no statistically significant trends within time intervals of several recent decades. This result is compared to other known findings on trends in mesospheric clouds. Based on the data of the modern ground-based noctilucent cloud observing network in the northern hemisphere and simultaneous satellite data on mesospheric temperature and humidity, we estimate sensitivity of noctilucent clouds to the relative humidity of the upper mesosphere. Such an approach allows us to discuss possible changes of the upper-mesospheric relative humidity, which are consistent with a zero secular trend in noctilucent cloud activity.

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“…Other than the known Type I, II, and IV types (i.e., Veils, Bands, and Whirls) of NLCs [ Gadsden and Parviainen , ], structures such as “Voids,” “Ice Rings,” “Fronts,” and “Vortex‐like structures” have also been identified in these space‐based images [ Rusch et al ., ; Thurairajah et al ., ]. Fronts structures have also been observed in NLCs using ground‐based images [ Dubietis et al ., ; Dalin et al ., ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentric gravity waves in polar mesospheric clouds from the Cloud Imaging and Particle Size experiment

et al. 2014

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Five concentric atmospheric gravity wave (AGW) events have been identified in Polar MesosphericCloud (PMC) images of the summer mesopause region (~82-84 km) made by the Cloud Imaging and Particle Size (CIPS) instrument on board the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere satellite during the Northern Hemisphere 2007 and 2009 PMC seasons. The AGWs modulate the PMC albedo, ice water content, and particle size, creating concentric ring patterns. On only one occasion (13 July 2007), the concentric AGWs in PMCs were aligned with AGWs with similar shapes observed in 4.3 μm radiance in the lower stratosphere, as measured by Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). Coincident AIRS and Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer nadir measurements of 8.1 μm radiance reveal a region of deep convection in the troposphere close to the estimated centers of the AGWs in the stratosphere, strongly suggesting that convection is the wave source. The AGWs in CIPS on 13 July 2007 were~1000 km away from the observed deep convection. Three other concentric AGWs in PMCs were 500-1000 km away from deep convection in the troposphere, while no convection was observed related to the wave on 29 July 2009. We perform a 2-D ray tracing study for the AGW event on 13 July 2007. The calculated propagation distance is much shorter than the distance between the AGWs in PMCs and the observed convection. The 2-D ray tracing study indicates that the AGWs in PMCs and in the stratosphere are probably excited by different tropospheric convective systems.

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Noctilucent clouds: modern ground-based photographic observations by a digital camera network

Cited by 30 publications

References 41 publications

First common volume ground‐based and space measurements of the mesospheric front in noctilucent clouds

First common volume ground‐based and space measurements of the mesospheric front in noctilucent clouds

Noctilucent clouds observed from the ground: sensitivity to mesospheric parameters and long-term time series

Concentric gravity waves in polar mesospheric clouds from the Cloud Imaging and Particle Size experiment

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