Linda Megner

Global and temporal distribution of meteoric smoke: A two-dimensional simulation study

[1] Meteoric material entering Earth’s atmosphere ablates in the mesosphere and is then expected to recondense into tiny so-called ‘‘smoke particles.’’ These particles are thought to be of great importance for middle atmosphere phenomena like noctilucent clouds, polar mesospheric summer echoes, metal layers, and heterogeneous chemistry. Commonly used one-dimensional (1-D) meteoric smoke profiles refer to average global conditions and yield of the order of a thousand nanometer sized particles per cubic centimeter at the mesopause, independent of latitude and time of year. Using the first two-dimensional model of both coagulation and transport of meteoric material we here show that such profiles are too simplistic, and that the distribution of smoke particles indeed is dependent on both latitude and season. The reason is that the atmospheric circulation, which cannot be properly handled by 1-D models, efficiently transports the particles to the winter hemisphere and down into the polar vortex. Using the assumptions commonly used in 1-D studies results in number densities of nanometer sized particles of around 4000 cm �3 at the winter pole, while very few particles remain at the Arctic summer mesopause. If smoke particles are the only nucleation kernel for ice in the mesosphere this would imply that there could only be of the order of 100 or less ice particles cm �3 at the Arctic summer mesopause. This is much less than the ice number densities expected for the formation of ice phenomena (noctilucent clouds and polar mesospheric summer echoes) that commonly occur in this region. However, we find that especially the uncertainty of the amount of material that is deposited in Earth’s atmosphere imposes a large error bar on this number, which may allow for number densities up to 1000 cm � 3 near the polar summer mesopause. This efficient transport of meteoric material to the winter hemisphere and down into the polar vortex results in higher concentrations of meteoric material in the Arctic winter stratosphere than previously thought. This is of potential importance for the formation of the so-called stratospheric condensation nuclei layer and for stratospheric nucleation processes.

Rocket-borne in situ measurements of meteor smoke: Charging properties and implications for seasonal variation

Rocket-borne observations of meteoric smoke particles (MSPs) are presented from three campaigns at polar latitudes (69 degrees N) in September 2006, and in the summers of 2007 and 2008. MSPs are detected using a novel technique based on photoelectron emission from the particles after stimulation by UV photons emitted by a xenon flashlamp. Resulting photoelectron currents are shown to be proportional to particle volume density. September results match model predictions qualitatively at altitudes from 65 to 85 km while measurements at higher altitudes are contaminated by photoelectrons from NO and O-2((1)Delta(g)). Contamination below this altitude can be excluded based on concurrent satellite observations. The observations show a large variability from flight to flight. Part of this variability can be attributed to differences in the charging of MSPs during day and night. Finally we find that MSP volume density in summer can exceed that during September. Analyzing model simulations of the global transport and microphysics of these particles, we show that our observations are in agreement with the model predictions, even though number densities of particles with radii >1 nm, which have long been thought to be suitable condensation nuclei for mesospheric ice particles, show the opposite behavior. It is shown that this discrepancy is caused by the fact that even larger particles (similar to 3 nm) dominate the volume density and that transport affects these different particle sizes in different ways. These results reinforce previous model findings according to which seasonal MSP variability is mainly driven by the global circulation and corresponding transport.

Observation of 27 day solar cycles in the production and mesospheric descent of EPP-produced NO

Observation of 27 day solar cycles in the production and mesospheric descent of EPP-produced NO

Direct and indirect electron precipitation effect on nitric oxide in the polar middle atmosphere, using a full-range energy spectrum

In April 2010, a coronal mass ejection and a corotating interaction region on the Sun resulted in an energetic electron precipitation event in the Earths atmosphere. We investigate direct and indirect nitric oxide (NO) response to the electron precipitation. By combining electron fluxes from the Total Energy Detector (TED) and the Medium Energy Proton and Electron Detector (MEPED) on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAAs) Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES), we obtain a continuous energy spectrum covering 1-750 keV. This corresponds to electrons depositing their energy at atmospheric altitudes 60-120 km. Based on the electron energy deposition, taking into account loss due to photolysis, the accumulated NO number density is estimated. When compared to NO measured at these altitudes by the Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment (SOFIE) instrument on board the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite, the NO direct effect was detected down to 55 km. The main variability at these altitudes is however dominated by the indirect effect, which is downward transported NO. We estimate the source of this descending NO to be in the upper mesosphere at ∼75-90 km.

Relative importance of nitric oxide physical drivers in the lower thermosphere

Nitric oxide (NO) observations from the Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment and Student Nitric Oxide Explorer satellite instruments are investigated to determine the relative importance of drivers ...

Characterisation of the analogue read-out chain for the CCDs onboard the mesospheric airglow/aerosol tomography and spectroscopy (MATS)

The MATS satellite aims at observing airglow and noctilucent clouds in the mesosphere. The main instrument consists of a six channels limb imager in the near-ultraviolet and near-infrared. A high signal-to-noise ratio is required for detecting these mesospheric phenomena: 100 and 500 for ultraviolet and infrared, respectively. This is achieved by an optical design minimizing stray-light, but also with a dedicated design of the read-out analogue chain for the CCD on each channel. The requirements and expected light level on the imaging channels are brie y discussed before focusing on the CCD read-out analogue chain, for which the design and performances are presented.

Observations and Modeling of Increased Nitric Oxide in the Antarctic Polar Middle Atmosphere Associated With Geomagnetic Storm‐Driven Energetic Electron Precipitation

Nitric oxide (NO) produced in the polar middle and upper atmosphere by energetic particle precipitation depletes ozone in the mesosphere and, following vertical transport in the winter polar vortex, in the stratosphere. Medium‐energy electron (MEE) ionization by 30–1,000 keV electrons during geomagnetic storms may have a significant role in mesospheric NO production. However, questions remain about the relative importance of direct NO production by MEE at altitudes ~60–90 km versus indirect NO originating from auroral ionization above 90 km. We investigate potential drivers of NO variability in the southern‐hemisphere mesosphere and lower thermosphere during 2013–2014. Contrasting geomagnetic activity occurred during the two austral winters, with more numerous moderate storms in the 2013 winter. Ground‐based millimeter‐wave observations of NO from Halley, Antarctica, are compared with measurements by the Solar Occultation For Ice Experiment (SOFIE) spaceborne spectrometer. NO partial columns over the altitude range 65–140 km from the two observational data sets show large day‐to‐day variability and significant disagreement, with Halley values on average 49% higher than the corresponding SOFIE data. SOFIE NO number densities, zonally averaged over geomagnetic latitudes −59° to −65°, are up to 3 × 108/cm3 higher in the winter of 2013 compared to 2014. Comparisons with a new version of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model, which includes detailed D‐region ion chemistry (WACCM‐SIC) and MEE ionization rates, show that the model underestimates NO in the winter lower mesosphere whereas thermospheric abundances are too high. This indicates the need to further improve and verify WACCM‐SIC with respect to MEE ionization, thermospheric NO chemistry, and vertical transport.