Comparison of Satellite and Ground-Based Data on Polar Mesospheric Clouds

Authors

Jodie Barker-Tvedtnes, Utah State University
Dan Burton, Utah State University
Mike Taylor, Utah State University
Matt DeLand, Science Systems and Applications Inc.
Mark Zalcik, Edmonton, Canada

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

5-17-2024

Abstract

PMCs are ice clouds that form near the extremely cold (<150K) mesopause region (80-85 km) during the summer months at high-latitudes. From the ground, these clouds can be seen during twilight hours as Noctilucent or "night shining" Clouds (NLC). In particular, SBUV satellite observations have shown that the occurrence and brightness of PMCs have been growing over the last several decades prompting speculation concerning their role in climate change. In this poster we compare displays seen from the ground during a campaign in Edmonton. Canada and reports by observers participating in the Canadian Noctilucent Cloud Observing Network CAN AM with the SBUV as well as new Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) satellite data. Our focus is to investigate the spatial and temporal extent of the clouds, as well as to identify unusual low latitude events (<50 deg) that have occasionally been seen as far south as Logan, Utah.

Comments

Publication date does not represent date presented.

Recommended Citation

Barker-Tvedtnes, Jodie; Burton, Dan; Taylor, Mike; DeLand, Matt; and Zalcik, Mark, "Comparison of Satellite and Ground-Based Data on Polar Mesospheric Clouds" (2024). All Physics Faculty Publications. Paper 2182.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/physics_facpub/2182