The strong activity of noctilucent clouds at middle latitudes in 2020
Dalin P. Suzuki H. Pertsev N. Perminov V. Shevchuk N. Tsimerinov E. Zalcik M. Brausch J. McEwan T. McEachran I. Connors M. Schofield I. Dubietis A. Černis K. Zadorozhny A. Solodovnik A. Lifatova D. Grønne J. Hansen O. Andersen H. Melnikov D. Manevich A. Gusev N. Romejko V.
March 2023Elsevier B.V.
Polar Science
2023#35
The 2020 summer season had more frequent than usual occurrences of noctilucent clouds (NLCs) in the Northern Hemisphere at middle latitudes (45–50°N), with the lowest latitude at which NLCs were seen being 34.1°N. In order to investigate a reason for this extraordinary NLC season, we have analyzed long-term Aura/MLS satellite data for all available summer periods from 2005 to 2021. Both Aura/MLS summer temperature and water vapor in the mesopause region, between about 79 and 89 km altitude, have been considered. There has been a decrease in the summer mesopause temperature between 2016 and 2020. At the same time, water vapor mixing ratio has significantly increased (by about 12–17%) in the zonal mean H2O value in the 2020 summer compared to 2017. There exists a positive linear trend in the H2O amount by about 5% between 2005 and 2021 at middle latitudes 45–50°N at 0.0046 hPa. A combination of lower mesopause temperature and water vapor mixing ratio maximum at middle latitudes is the main reason for frequent and widespread occurrences of NLCs seen around the globe at middle latitudes in the summer of 2020. The 24th solar cycle minimum can explain neither the H2O maximum nor NLC maximum in 2020.
Noctilucent clouds , Solar activity , Summer mesopause
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Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Box 812, Kiruna, SE-981 28, Sweden
Space Research Institute, RAS, Profsouznaya st. 84/32, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation
Meiji University, Kanagawa, Kawasaki, Japan
A. M. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, RAS, Pyzhevskiy per., 3, Moscow, 119017, Russian Federation
Saint Petersburg State University, Department of Atmospheric Physics, Ulyanovskaya str., 1, Petergof, Saint Petersburg, 198504, Russian Federation
Meteoweb.ru, Moscow, Russian Federation
NLC CAN AM, 1005-11230, St. Albert Trail, Edmonton, T5M 3P2, AB, Canada
NLC NET, 14 Kersland Road, Glengarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, KA14 3BA, United Kingdom
Athabasca University Geophysical Observatory, Athabasca, T9S 3A3, AB, Canada
Laser Research Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio Ave. 10, Vilnius, LT-10223, Lithuania
Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy, Vilnius University, Sauletekio Ave. 3, Vilnius, LT-10257, Lithuania
Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova st. 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
M. Kozybaev North Kazakhstan State University, Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan
The Faculty of Physics, M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-2, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
The Danish Association for NLC Research, Lille Skensved, Spurvevænget 14, Ejby, DK-2623, Denmark
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, RAS, 9 Piip Boulevard, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 683006, Russian Federation
Center for the observation and study of noctilucent clouds, Moscow, 117452, Russian Federation
Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Space Research Institute
Meiji University
A. M. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics
Saint Petersburg State University
Meteoweb.ru
NLC CAN AM
NLC NET
Athabasca University Geophysical Observatory
Laser Research Center
Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy
Novosibirsk State University
M. Kozybaev North Kazakhstan State University
The Faculty of Physics
The Danish Association for NLC Research
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
Center for the observation and study of noctilucent clouds
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