Large ice particles associated with small ice water content observed by AIM CIPS imagery of polar mesospheric clouds: Evidence for microphysical coupling with small-scale dynamics

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dc.contributor.authorRusch, D. W.en
dc.contributor.authorThomas, G.en
dc.contributor.authorMerkel, A.en
dc.contributor.authorOlivero, J.en
dc.contributor.authorChandran, A.en
dc.contributor.authorLumpe, J. D.en
dc.contributor.authorCarstans, J.en
dc.contributor.authorRandall, C.en
dc.contributor.authorBailey, S.en
dc.contributor.authorRussell, James M. IIIen
dc.contributor.departmentElectrical and Computer Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2019-09-30T13:21:39Zen
dc.date.available2019-09-30T13:21:39Zen
dc.date.issued2017-09en
dc.description.abstractObservations by the Cloud Imaging and Particle Size (CIPS) instrument on the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite have demonstrated the existence of Polar Mesospheric Cloud (PMC) regions populated by particles whose mean sizes range between 60 and 100 nm (radii of equivalent volume spheres). It is known from numerous satellite experiments that typical mean PMC particle sizes are of the order of 40-50 nm. Determination of particle size by CIPS is accomplished by measuring the scattering of solar radiation at various scattering angles at a spatial resolution of 25 km(2). In this size range we find a robust anti-correlation between mean particle size and albedo. These very-large particle-low-ice (VLP-LI) clouds occur over spatially coherent areas. The surprising result is that VLP-LI are frequently present either in the troughs of gravity wave-like features or at the edges of PMC voids. We postulate that an association with gravity waves exists in the low-temperature summertime mesopause region, and illustrate the mechanism by a gravity wave simulation through use of the 2D Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres (CARMA). The model results are consistent with a VLP-LI population in the cold troughs of monochromatic gravity waves. In addition, we find such events in Whole Earth Community Climate Model/CARMA simulations, suggesting the possible importance of sporadic downward winds in heating the upper cloud regions. This newly-discovered association enhances our understanding of the interaction of ice microphysics with dynamical processes in the upper mesosphere. Published by Elsevier Ltd.en
dc.description.notesThis work was supported by the NASA/AIM mission, which is funded by NASA's Small Explorers Program under contract NAS503132. Many thanks to the AIM team for years of dedication and service. We benefitted from discussions with D. Fritts, G. Baumgarten, H. Wilms and C. Bardeen. We thank 0. Christensen for providing calculations for the sedimentation speeds of ice particles, and G. Baumgarten for providing T -matrix calculations for non -spherical particle scattering properties.en
dc.description.sponsorshipNASA/AIM - NASA's Small Explorers Program [NAS503132]en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2016.04.018en
dc.identifier.eissn1879-1824en
dc.identifier.issn1364-6826en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/94140en
dc.identifier.volume162en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.subjectPolar mesospheric cloudsen
dc.subjectMesosphere dynamicsen
dc.subjectGravity wavesen
dc.titleLarge ice particles associated with small ice water content observed by AIM CIPS imagery of polar mesospheric clouds: Evidence for microphysical coupling with small-scale dynamicsen
dc.title.serialJournal of Atmospheric And Solar-Terrestrial Physicsen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
dc.type.dcmitypeStillImageen

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