Observation of polar stratospheric clouds with the ABLE LIDAR during the APE-POLECAT flight of January 9, 1997

• Published in: Journal of Aerosol Science
• Main Authors: Giandomenico Pace, P. G. Calisse, A. Di Sarra, Lorenzo Rinaldi, Stefano Casadio, CACCIANI, Marco, FIOCCO, Giorgio, FUA', DANIELE
• Other Authors: Giandomenico, Pace, Cacciani, Marco, P. G., Calisse, A., Di Sarra, Fiocco, Giorgio, Fua', Daniele, Lorenzo, Rinaldi, Stefano, Casadio
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD 2003
• Subjects: lidar; polar stratospheric clouds; Rovaniemi
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11573/253194; https://doi.org/10.1016/s0021-8502(03)00032-6; http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=000183593300008&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=0c7ff228ccbaaa74236f48834a34396a; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0038365061&partnerID=65&md5=8cf4266979b4274880df93975e7e941a

Observations of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) were carried out with an airborne lidar on the stratospheric M55 Geophysica aircraft during a flight from Rovaniemi, Finland, on 9 January, 1997. The clouds were observed at the zenith, downwind from the Norwegian Alps: three PSCs, of somewhat different characteristics, were detected at heights between 23 and 28 km. In two of the clouds, different types of particles seem to coexist: echoes attributable to types I and II PSCs are found in different portions of the clouds. The formation of the PSCs is related to an orographic lee-wave, whose development was forecast by a mesoscale dynamical model used to plan the flight path. The largest observed PSC displays a complex structure, that appears to be influenced by waves of different wavelengths. In particular, lidar and in situ data suggest the presence of a wave having a relatively short length (about 18 km) that overlaps on the main lee-wave. The short wavelength oscillation is thought to play a major role in the cloud development, determining the rapid formation and evaporation of particles and therefore the non-stationary character of the PSC. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.