Lidar observations of polar mesospheric clouds at South Pole: Seasonal variations
Chu, Xinzhao; Gardner, Chester S.; Papen, George
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/73142
Description
Title
Lidar observations of polar mesospheric clouds at South Pole: Seasonal variations
Author(s)
Chu, Xinzhao
Gardner, Chester S.
Papen, George
Issue Date
2001-04-01
Keyword(s)
Lidar
South Pole
Geographic Coverage
South Pole
Abstract
Polar mesospheric clouds (PMCs) were observed
above the geographic South Pole by an Fe Boltzmann temperature
lidar from 11 Dec 99 to 24 Feb 00. During this
76-day period 297 h of observations were made on 33 different
days and PMCs were detected 66.5% of the time. The
mean PMC peak backscatter ratio, peak volume backscatter
coefficient, total backscatter coefficient, layer centroid
altitude, and layer rms width are 50.59 q- 2.33, 2.70 q-
0.12x10 -9 m-•sr -•, 3.61 q- 0.22x10 -6 sr -•, 85.49 q- 0.09
km, and 0.71 q- 0.03 km, respectively. The PMCs are highest
near summer solstice when upwelling over the pole is
strongest. The altitudes are 2-4 km higher than that typically
observed elsewhere, including the North Pole. After
solstice the mean altitudes decreases by about 64 m/day as
the upwelling weakens.
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