%0 Journal Article %1 BalseleyPMSE %A Balsley, B. B. %A Huaman, M. %D 1997 %J Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres %K ATMOSPHERE CLOUDS LATITUDES LEO LOWER MIDDLE RADAR REGION THERMOSPHERE %N D2 %P 2021-2024 %T On the relationship between seasonal occurrence of northern hemispheric polar mesosphere summer echoes and mean mesopause temperatures %V 102 %X The occurrence of polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE) has been closely associated with the seasonal cooling of the high-latitude summer mesopause region wherein the echoes are embedded. Indeed, a ''threshold'' temperature has been suggested, with PMSE appearing as mesosphere temperatures fall below some critical value. A careful comparison between seasonally varying mean mesopause temperatures and PMSE occurrence statistics, however, suggests that the probability curve of PMSE occurrence is displaced from the seasonal curve of low summer mesopause temperatures by 1 to 2 weeks, with the temperature decrease leading the PMSE occurrence curve in springtime and the temperature increase leading the PMSE dropout in the fall. A similar displacement can also be seen in the occurrence statistics for polar mesospheric clouds (PMC), a closely related phenomenon observed by satellites. This lack of a direct correlation between mesopause temperature and PMSE occurrence suggests that PMSE occurrence is governed by more than just low mesospheric temperatures. The most likely possibility is that summertime mesospheric water vapor maximizes somewhat later than the minimum in mesospheric temperature, providing a more hospitable environment for PMSE generation. This possibility is supported by a model of the supersaturation region Garcin, 1989, which shows a comparable lag between the seasonal mesospheric temperature minimum and the maximum in water vapor mixing ratio.

@article{BalseleyPMSE, abstract = {The occurrence of polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE) has been closely associated with the seasonal cooling of the high-latitude summer mesopause region wherein the echoes are embedded. Indeed, a ''threshold'' temperature has been suggested, with PMSE appearing as mesosphere temperatures fall below some critical value. A careful comparison between seasonally varying mean mesopause temperatures and PMSE occurrence statistics, however, suggests that the probability curve of PMSE occurrence is displaced from the seasonal curve of low summer mesopause temperatures by 1 to 2 weeks, with the temperature decrease leading the PMSE occurrence curve in springtime and the temperature increase leading the PMSE dropout in the fall. A similar displacement can also be seen in the occurrence statistics for polar mesospheric clouds (PMC), a closely related phenomenon observed by satellites. This lack of a direct correlation between mesopause temperature and PMSE occurrence suggests that PMSE occurrence is governed by more than just low mesospheric temperatures. The most likely possibility is that summertime mesospheric water vapor maximizes somewhat later than the minimum in mesospheric temperature, providing a more hospitable environment for PMSE generation. This possibility is supported by a model of the supersaturation region [Garcin, 1989], which shows a comparable lag between the seasonal mesospheric temperature minimum and the maximum in water vapor mixing ratio.}, added-at = {2009-03-30T22:21:12.000+0200}, author = {Balsley, B. B. and Huaman, M.}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/28d3e50ba2ebfb5a06c6c7029a3edada8/bobsica}, description = {Leo's paper references II}, interhash = {5271c465ab171ee85328e7a4dcb6e407}, intrahash = {8d3e50ba2ebfb5a06c6c7029a3edada8}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres}, keywords = {ATMOSPHERE CLOUDS LATITUDES LEO LOWER MIDDLE RADAR REGION THERMOSPHERE}, note = {Cited References: BALSLEY BB, 1983, J ATMOS SCI, V40, P2451 BALSLEY BB, 1995, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, V100, P11685 CHO JYN, 1993, REV GEOPHYS, V31, P243 CHO JYN, 1995, GEOPHYS RES LETT, V22, P1197 COLE AE, 1978, AIR FORCE SURVEYS GE, V382 ECKLUND WL, 1981, J GEOPHYS RES, V86, P7775 GARCIA RR, 1989, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOSP, V94, P14605 GROVES GV, 1987, AIR FORCE SURVEYS GE, V449 HALL CM, 1995, GEOPHYS RES LETT, V22, P3469 HEDIN AE, 1991, J GEOPHYS RES, V96, P1159 HOPPE UP, 1994, ADV SPACE RES, V14, P139 LUBKEN FJ, 1991, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOSP, V96, P20841 LUBKEN FJ, 1995, 12 ESA S EUR ROCK BA ROTTGER J, 1994, J ATMOS TERR PHYS, V56, P1173 THEON J, 1972, R375 NASA TR THOMAS GE, 1989, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOSP, V94, P14673 THOMAS GE, 1991, REV GEOPHYS, V29, P553 VONZAHN U, 1990, ADV SPACE RES, V10, P223}, number = {D2}, pages = {2021-2024}, timestamp = {2009-03-30T22:21:12.000+0200}, title = {On the relationship between seasonal occurrence of northern hemispheric polar mesosphere summer echoes and mean mesopause temperatures}, volume = 102, year = 1997 }