On the unusually bright and frequent noctilucent clouds in summer 2019 above Northern Germany

Gerding, M.; Baumgarten, Gerd; Zecha, M.; Lübken, Franz‐Josef; Baumgarten, Kathrin; Latteck, R.

doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2021.105577

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Conversely, when PMCs occur at lower altitudes, fewer MSPs are charged by electrons, allowing ice particles to grow larger. This is consistent with the ground-based observations that the lower PMCs are brighter (Gerding et al, 2021;Ugolnikov and Maslov, 2019), possibly because the larger ice particles in the lower PMCs cause some subvisible ice particles to become visible.…”

Section: The "Charged-msps Nucleation" Scheme For Pmc Formationsupporting

confidence: 91%

Dominant role of charged meteoric smoke particles in the polar mesospheric clouds

Zhang,

Liu,

Tinsley

2024

Preprint

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Abstract. Polar mesospheric clouds (PMCs), composed of ice particles, are sensitive to solar activity and atmospheric dynamics, and have been suggested as a potential indicator of climate change. However, the microphysical processes of PMCs, especially the mechanism of ice nucleation, remain poorly understood. This study presents an analysis of satellite PMC data, which reveals that the mean ice particle radius (r) and concentration (N) in PMCs are primarily influenced by the PMC height (h), rather than by the mean environment temperature (T). Additionally, the ice particle column concentration (Nc) exhibits a surprising decrease with latitude. These results support the hypothesis that charged meteoric smoke particles (MSPs) act as ice nuclei, based on which we propose the charged-MSPs nucleation (CMN) scheme for the PMC formation. In contrast to the conventional growth-sedimentation (GS) scheme, in the CMN scheme the nucleation occurs throughout the PMC altitude range, ice particles grow mainly in situ, and the ice particle radius is determined by the competition for the limited water vapor rather than by sedimentation. The CMN scheme provides new pathways for solar activity and atmospheric dynamics to affect PMCs, and can explain a number of puzzling phenomena in the GS scheme.

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Section: The "Charged-msps Nucleation" Scheme For Pmc Formationsupporting

confidence: 91%

Dominant role of charged meteoric smoke particles in the polar mesospheric clouds

Zhang,

Liu,

Tinsley

2024

Preprint

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“…In addition, there is no anti‐correlation of cloud frequency with the 11 years solar cycle, which peaked in 2015 for the months shown (Machol et al., 2019). This appears to be inconsistent with ground‐based observations assembled over many more years (e.g., Dalin et al., 2020; Dubietis et al., 2010; Gerding et al., 2013; Gerding et al., 2021; Kirkwood et al., 2008; Pertsev et al., 2014), as well as the change inferred by Russell et al. (2014) for these same latitudes from 2002 to 2011 using satellite temperature and water vapor data.…”

Section: Mid‐latitude Mesospheric Cloud Frequencies: 2007–2021mentioning

confidence: 63%

“…We first consider the mesospheric cloud observations of 17-18 June as shown in Figure 5. In addition, Gerding et al (2021) recently reported an unusually bright NLC on 17 June from a German ground-based station. A review of the launch record (www.spaceflightnow.com/launch-log) shows a Space-X Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base (35°N, 121°W) in California at 6.3 LT of 12 June that year.…”

Section: A Case Study Of Space Traffic Exhaust Forming Mid-latitude M...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The total daily ice mass from 2019 is shown in Figure 5, which is determined from the sum of all detected ice water content (g/km 2 ) multiplied by the area of each CIPS pixel (56.25 km 2 ) for each day. We choose to show the 2019 season in more detail because it has been identified as a particularly active season for mid‐latitude mesospheric clouds (Gerding et al., 2021). The variation in Figure 5 is extreme, with the daily ice mass between 0 t and 2 t. Such variability at a fixed LT motivates us to consider another source of cloud formation, so we consider here the advection of space traffic exhaust.…”

Section: Mid‐latitude Mesospheric Cloud Frequencies: 2007–2021mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Northern Mid‐Latitude Mesospheric Cloud Frequencies Observed by AIM/CIPS: Interannual Variability Driven by Space Traffic

Stevens

Randall

Carstens

et al. 2022

Earth and Space Science

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Recent advances in data processing from the Cloud Imaging and Particle Size (CIPS) instrument on the NASA Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere satellite allow observation of bright mesospheric clouds at mid‐latitudes (<60°). When adjusted for the evolving local time (LT) of the CIPS observations during its mission we find that the frequencies of these bright clouds in the northern hemisphere show no trend from 2007 to 2021 and no dependence on the solar cycle, although the interannual variability is extreme. Rather we investigate the possible link with propellant exhaust from orbital vehicles, typically launched at lower latitudes. By filtering the launch record equatorward of 60°N using only those launches between 23 and 10 LT, we find a strong correlation with the observed mid‐latitude mesospheric cloud frequency variability between 56° and 60°N. Meridional winds at 92 km from a meteorological analysis system reveal that these morning launches occurred at the time of maximum northward transport. Based upon this combination of high correlation between the cloud frequency and the launch record plus favorable transport conditions, it is likely that space traffic has a strong influence on the interannual variability of these bright mesospheric clouds.

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“…Continuous observations of the MLT have always been a difficult task. Historically, a few ground‐based instruments like lidars, optical imagers, and different radars have contributed to further the understanding of MLT dynamics (e.g., Chen et al., 2016; Gerding et al., 2021; Hecht et al., 2010; Hibbins et al., 2007; Hoffmann et al., 2010; Huang et al., 2021; Larsen, 2004; Liu et al., 2020; Lübken et al., 2011; Murphy et al., 2009; Nakamura et al., 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of Multistatic Meteor Radar Analysis Using Modeled Mesospheric Dynamics: An Assessment of the Reliability of Gradients and Vertical Velocities

et al. 2022

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The mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) is a dynamically active region representing the boundary between the neutral atmosphere and space. This region is permeated by atmospheric tides, planetary waves, and gravity waves, which play key roles in coupling the lower and upper strata of the atmosphere (Alexander et al., 2010;Fritts & Alexander, 2003;Smith, 2012;Vincent, 2015). Continuous observations of the MLT have always been a difficult task. Historically, a few ground-based instruments like lidars, optical imagers, and different radars have contributed to further the understanding of MLT dynamics (e.g.,

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On the unusually bright and frequent noctilucent clouds in summer 2019 above Northern Germany

Cited by 4 publications

References 58 publications

Dominant role of charged meteoric smoke particles in the polar mesospheric clouds

Dominant role of charged meteoric smoke particles in the polar mesospheric clouds

Northern Mid‐Latitude Mesospheric Cloud Frequencies Observed by AIM/CIPS: Interannual Variability Driven by Space Traffic

Validation of Multistatic Meteor Radar Analysis Using Modeled Mesospheric Dynamics: An Assessment of the Reliability of Gradients and Vertical Velocities

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