All Physics Faculty Publications

Measurements of Noctilucent Cloud Heights: a Bench Mark for Changes in the Mesosphere

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics

Volume

56

Issue

4

Publisher

Elsevier

Publication Date

3-1994

First Page

461

Last Page

466

Abstract

Recent studies of noctilucent clouds indicate a secular increase in their frequency of occurrence which may be associated with changes either in the water vapour concentration or in the mean temperature of the mesopause. Noctilucent clouds are expected to be seen very close to the level where the relative humidity is 100% and changes in temperature of the mesosphere or in its water vapour content might be expected to alter the height at which the clouds occur. Comparison of our height measurements with those obtained over the past 100 yr shows that the suggested changes since 1885 in temperature (a decrease of approximately 7°C) and water vapour mixing ratio (an increase of approximately 1.7 ppmv) have not been sufficient to affect the height of the clouds by an observable amount. Future height measurements of noctilucent clouds may provide a practical indicator of changes taking place in the mesosphere which could be associated with global-scale alterations of the lower atmosphere.

Comments

Published by Elsevier in Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0021916994901945

Publisher PDF is available for download through the link above.

https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9169(94)90194-5

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS