Articles | Volume 16, issue 23
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-15135-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-15135-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
07 Dec 2016
Research article |
| 07 Dec 2016
Comparison of retrieved noctilucent cloud particle properties from Odin tomography scans and model simulations
Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
Ole M. Christensen
Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
Bodil Karlsson
Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
Susanne Benze
Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
Victor I. Fomichev
CRESS, York University, Toronto, Canada
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Subject: Clouds and Precipitation | Research Activity: Atmospheric Modelling and Data Analysis | Altitude Range: Mesosphere | Science Focus: Physics (physical properties and processes)
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Short summary
Noctilucent clouds (NLCs) are ice clouds that form at the polar summer mesopause and are very sensitive to temperature. They may therefore provide a way to monitor this remote region as our atmosphere changes. We show that temperature variations in the mesosphere are crucial for the growth of ice particles and that average fields are not enough to describe the process of NLC development. The paper also emphasises the difficulties in retrieving ice particle properties from optical observations.
Noctilucent clouds (NLCs) are ice clouds that form at the polar summer mesopause and are very...
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