Quantification of waves in lidar observations of noctilucent clouds at scales from seconds to minutes
We present small-scale structures and waves observed in noctilucent clouds (NLC) by lidar at an unprecedented temporal resolution of 30 s or less. The measurements were taken with the Rayleigh/Mie/Raman lidar at the ALOMAR observatory in northern Norway (69° N) in the years 2008–2011. We find multip...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:f97526e7ed3446d2a87a6eb4123538b4 2023-05-15T17:43:32+02:00 Quantification of waves in lidar observations of noctilucent clouds at scales from seconds to minutes N. Kaifler G. Baumgarten J. Fiedler F.-J. Lübken 2013-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-11757-2013 https://doaj.org/article/f97526e7ed3446d2a87a6eb4123538b4 EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/13/11757/2013/acp-13-11757-2013.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1680-7316 https://doaj.org/toc/1680-7324 1680-7316 1680-7324 doi:10.5194/acp-13-11757-2013 https://doaj.org/article/f97526e7ed3446d2a87a6eb4123538b4 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Vol 13, Iss 23, Pp 11757-11768 (2013) Physics QC1-999 Chemistry QD1-999 article 2013 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-11757-2013 2022-12-31T01:47:48Z We present small-scale structures and waves observed in noctilucent clouds (NLC) by lidar at an unprecedented temporal resolution of 30 s or less. The measurements were taken with the Rayleigh/Mie/Raman lidar at the ALOMAR observatory in northern Norway (69° N) in the years 2008–2011. We find multiple layer NLC in 7.9% of the time for a brightness threshold of δ β = 12 × 10 −10 m −1 sr −1 . In comparison to 10 min averaged data, the 30 s dataset shows considerably more structure. For limited periods, quasi-monochromatic waves in NLC altitude variations are common, in accord with ground-based NLC imagery. For the combined dataset, on the other hand, we do not find preferred periods but rather significant periods at all timescales observed (1 min to 1 h). Typical wave amplitudes in the layer vertical displacements are 0.2 km with maximum amplitudes up to 2.3 km. Average spectral slopes of temporal altitude and brightness variations are −2.01 ± 0.25 for centroid altitude, −1.41 ± 0.24 for peak brightness and −1.73 ± 0.25 for integrated brightness. Evaluating a new single-pulse detection system, we observe altitude variations of 70 s period and spectral slopes down to a scale of 10 s. We evaluate the suitability of NLC parameters as tracers for gravity waves. Article in Journal/Newspaper Northern Norway Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Norway Alomar ENVELOPE(-67.083,-67.083,-68.133,-68.133) Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 13 23 11757 11768 |
institution |
Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
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English |
topic |
Physics QC1-999 Chemistry QD1-999 |
spellingShingle |
Physics QC1-999 Chemistry QD1-999 N. Kaifler G. Baumgarten J. Fiedler F.-J. Lübken Quantification of waves in lidar observations of noctilucent clouds at scales from seconds to minutes |
topic_facet |
Physics QC1-999 Chemistry QD1-999 |
description |
We present small-scale structures and waves observed in noctilucent clouds (NLC) by lidar at an unprecedented temporal resolution of 30 s or less. The measurements were taken with the Rayleigh/Mie/Raman lidar at the ALOMAR observatory in northern Norway (69° N) in the years 2008–2011. We find multiple layer NLC in 7.9% of the time for a brightness threshold of δ β = 12 × 10 −10 m −1 sr −1 . In comparison to 10 min averaged data, the 30 s dataset shows considerably more structure. For limited periods, quasi-monochromatic waves in NLC altitude variations are common, in accord with ground-based NLC imagery. For the combined dataset, on the other hand, we do not find preferred periods but rather significant periods at all timescales observed (1 min to 1 h). Typical wave amplitudes in the layer vertical displacements are 0.2 km with maximum amplitudes up to 2.3 km. Average spectral slopes of temporal altitude and brightness variations are −2.01 ± 0.25 for centroid altitude, −1.41 ± 0.24 for peak brightness and −1.73 ± 0.25 for integrated brightness. Evaluating a new single-pulse detection system, we observe altitude variations of 70 s period and spectral slopes down to a scale of 10 s. We evaluate the suitability of NLC parameters as tracers for gravity waves. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
N. Kaifler G. Baumgarten J. Fiedler F.-J. Lübken |
author_facet |
N. Kaifler G. Baumgarten J. Fiedler F.-J. Lübken |
author_sort |
N. Kaifler |
title |
Quantification of waves in lidar observations of noctilucent clouds at scales from seconds to minutes |
title_short |
Quantification of waves in lidar observations of noctilucent clouds at scales from seconds to minutes |
title_full |
Quantification of waves in lidar observations of noctilucent clouds at scales from seconds to minutes |
title_fullStr |
Quantification of waves in lidar observations of noctilucent clouds at scales from seconds to minutes |
title_full_unstemmed |
Quantification of waves in lidar observations of noctilucent clouds at scales from seconds to minutes |
title_sort |
quantification of waves in lidar observations of noctilucent clouds at scales from seconds to minutes |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-11757-2013 https://doaj.org/article/f97526e7ed3446d2a87a6eb4123538b4 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-67.083,-67.083,-68.133,-68.133) |
geographic |
Norway Alomar |
geographic_facet |
Norway Alomar |
genre |
Northern Norway |
genre_facet |
Northern Norway |
op_source |
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Vol 13, Iss 23, Pp 11757-11768 (2013) |
op_relation |
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/13/11757/2013/acp-13-11757-2013.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1680-7316 https://doaj.org/toc/1680-7324 1680-7316 1680-7324 doi:10.5194/acp-13-11757-2013 https://doaj.org/article/f97526e7ed3446d2a87a6eb4123538b4 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-11757-2013 |
container_title |
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
23 |
container_start_page |
11757 |
op_container_end_page |
11768 |
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1766145631149096960 |