University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Lidar observations of polar mesospheric clouds at South Pole: Seasonal variations

Chu, Xinzhao; Gardner, Chester S.; Papen, George

Content Files
Chu2001.pdf

Permalink

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
Date of Ingest
2015-01-30T15:46:20Z
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.
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Type of Resource
text
Genre of Resource
Article
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/73142
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2000GL012524
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2001 American Geophysical Union

Owning Collections

South Pole Lidar Data PRIMARY