Antarctic NAT PSC Belt of June 2003: Observational Validation of the Mountain Wave Seeding Hypothesis

Abstract

Satellite observations of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) over Antarctica in June 2003 revealed small nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) particles forming suddenly along the vortex edge. Models suggest the trigger was mountain waves over the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) forming ice for NAT nucleation. We test this hypothesis by analyzing perturbations in stratospheric radiances from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). AIRS data show mountain waves over the AP on 10-14 June, with no resolved wave activity before or after. Peak wave temperature amplitudes derived from independent 40 hPa channels all return values of 10-12 K, in agreement with values used to model this NAT event. These observations support a NAT wake from a small region of mountain wave activity over the AP as the source of this circumpolar NAT outbreak.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA522192

Entities

People

  • Dufei Wu
  • L. Hoffmann
  • M. Hoepfner
  • M. J. Alexander
  • Stephen D. Eckermann

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplitude
  • Case Studies
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Sciences
  • Geography
  • Gravity Waves
  • High Latitudes
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Mountains
  • Nitric Acid
  • Nitrogen Compounds
  • Space Sciences
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Validation
  • Weighting Functions

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Polar and Arctic Studies

Technology Areas

  • Space