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Recent observations of high mass density polar mesospheric clouds: A link to space traffic?
Author(s) -
Siskind David E.,
Stevens Michael H.,
Hervig Mark E.,
Randall Cora E.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/grl.50540
Subject(s) - aeronomy , atmospheric sciences , water vapor , environmental science , mesosphere , polar , stratosphere , meteorology , physics , atmosphere (unit) , astronomy
Observations of polar mesospheric clouds by the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere Explorer show that for the Northern summers of 2007–2010, the cloud ice water content (IWC) and occurrence frequency varied with the meteorological forcing from the Southern winter stratosphere. With the increase in solar flux in the last two years, expectations were that the clouds would decrease due to reduced water vapor (H 2 O) and/or higher temperatures. Surprisingly, we observe more clouds in 2011 and 40% greater IWC in 2011 and 2012. The increase is particularly pronounced in the clouds with highest IWC. These high IWC clouds are associated with significant enhancements in total H 2 O (vapor and ice). We suggest this implies an additional source of H 2 O and that this is provided by space traffic exhaust. A preliminary estimate of the H 2 O released from summertime space traffic over the last six years is qualitatively consistent with this suggestion.