HR: 16:15h
AN: SA42B-02    [PDF]
TI: Comparisons of Southern and Northern Polar Mesospheric Clouds Based on Lidar Observations
AU: * Chu, X
EM: xchu@uiuc.edu
AF: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1308 West Main Street, 310 CSL, Urbana, IL 61801 United States
AU: Gardner, C S
EM: cgardner@uillinois.edu
AF: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1308 West Main Street, 310 CSL, Urbana, IL 61801 United States
AU: Espy, P J
EM: PJE@bas.ac.uk
AF: British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET United Kingdom
AU: Klekociuk, A
EM: Andrew.Klekociuk@aad.gov.au
AF: Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Hwy, Kingston, Tas 7050 Australia
AU: Thayer, J P
EM: thayer@sri.com
AF: SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025 United States
AB: Since the first lidar observation of polar mesospheric clouds (PMC) in 1989 by a Na lidar at Andoya, extensive PMC observations have been made by lidars in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The lidar observations provide precise information on PMC altitudes, layer structure, and the diurnal and seasonal variations. Recently, the lidar observations at three Antarctic locations (South Pole, Davis, and Rothera) enable us to study the southern PMC properties in detail. The southern PMC exhibit some characteristics that are different from their northern counterparts, e.g., differences exist in the mean altitudes. However, there is large geophysical variability in PMC altitude and brightness in both hemispheres. Here we present a detailed comparison of the southern and northern PMC altitude distributions and brightness and their seasonal variations. The differences and similarities will be determined and possible causes for the differences will be discussed.
DE: 0340 Middle atmosphere--composition and chemistry
DE: 1640 Remote sensing
DE: 1655 Water cycles (1836)
DE: 3334 Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342)
DE: 3360 Remote sensing
SC: SPA - Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting