Mid-latitude artificial noctilucent clouds initiated by high-altitude rockets

Bénech, B.; Dessens, Jean

doi:10.1029/jc079i009p01299

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Similar observations are reported by Benech and Dessens (1974). On two occasions, 1971 February23 and 1972 March 18, a mesopsheric cloud was nucleated by the exhaust of a rocket passing through the region.…”

Section: Lidar Measurementssupporting

confidence: 86%

Noctilucent clouds

Gadsden

1982

Space Sci Rev

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Abstract. Noctilucent clouds appear during the summertime at high lantudes near the top of the mesosphere. In this review, the observattonal facts about them, obtained from ground level, by rocket sounding and from orbiting spacecraft, are reviewed. The data are not sufficiently clear and unambiguous to permit dogmatic assemon about the origin and nature of the clouds. They seem to be ice particles nucleated at very low pressures and temperatures by either meteoric smoke or by atmospheric ions. Wavepatterns m the clouds may well result from quite close relations between the troposphere and the mesosphere The very existence of the clouds leads to difficulties in explaining why there is so much water vapour at this great height in the atmosphere. To try to predict the microscopic behaviour of the cloud particles leads one into assessment of the relative importance of radiometer effects, radiauon balance, Brownian movement, electric polanzanon and the influence of Coulomb attraction on the growth of large clustered ions. Finally, a hst ~s gtven of published sources of observanonal data.

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Section: Lidar Measurementssupporting

confidence: 86%

Noctilucent clouds

Gadsden

1982

Space Sci Rev

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“…In this section we will consider various sources of water vapor, ending with the conclusion that regardless of the source of water vapor a water-ice cloud is possible in April only if the 83-km temperature is at least 70 K below normal. Artificial NLC have been frequently sighted after the launch of a rocket [Benech and Dessens, 1974;Meinel and Meinel, 1983, plates 9.2-9.3; Sandford, 1986;Kalv, .1989].…”

Section: Water-ice Cloudmentioning

confidence: 99%

Noctilucent cloud observed in late April at South Pole Station: Temperature anomaly or meteoritic debris?

Warren¹,

Thomas²,

Hernández³

et al. 1997

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…These events are generally (but not always) related to much smaller rockets than the Space Shuttle, with launch vehicles that are propelled by solid fuel (and thus do not produce a water‐enriched exhaust plume). Most likely, such clouds are a result of direct injection of nonvolatile particles, since they often occur over nonpolar sites where the ambient air is normally well above ice sublimation temperature (Benech & Dessens, ; Meinel et al, ). These occurrences have been observed throughout the space flight era.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Space Traffic Effects in SBUV Polar Mesospheric Cloud Data

DeLand

Thomas

2019

JGR Atmospheres

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Water‐rich rocket exhaust plumes, in particular those emitted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Shuttle, have been suggested to make a significant contribution to long‐term trends in polar mesospheric cloud (PMC) ice water content. We investigate this claim using the combined Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SBUV) PMC data record from eight separate instruments, which includes 60 Shuttle launches during PMC seasons between 1985 and 2011. No statistically significant postlaunch signal in PMC total ice is observed based on superposed epoch analysis of the SBUV record. Only a few launches show individual peaks in total ice anomaly above the seasonal background that exceed an empirical threshold, and the maximum cumulative signature from these infrequent cases is typically less than 5% of the season total in ice mass. Other non‐Shuttle launches show circumstantial evidence of possible PMC effects, although supporting evidence for plume transport is not available. We conclude that space traffic effects have been a negligible component of long‐term PMC behavior.

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Mid-latitude artificial noctilucent clouds initiated by high-altitude rockets

Cited by 12 publications

References 4 publications

Noctilucent clouds

Noctilucent clouds

Noctilucent cloud observed in late April at South Pole Station: Temperature anomaly or meteoritic debris?

Evaluation of Space Traffic Effects in SBUV Polar Mesospheric Cloud Data

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