Articles | Volume 15, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-12897-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-12897-2015
Research article
 | 
19 Nov 2015
Research article |  | 19 Nov 2015

Impact of particle shape on the morphology of noctilucent clouds

J. Kiliani, G. Baumgarten, F.-J. Lübken, and U. Berger

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Subject: Aerosols | Research Activity: Atmospheric Modelling and Data Analysis | Altitude Range: Mesosphere | Science Focus: Physics (physical properties and processes)
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Cited articles

Bardeen, C. G., Toon, O. B., Jensen, E. J., Hervig, M. E., Randall, C. E., Benze, S., Marsh, D. R., and Merkel, A.: Numerical simulations of the three-dimensional distribution of polar mesospheric clouds and comparisons with Cloud Imaging and Particle Size (CIPS) experiment and the Solar Occultation For Ice Experiment (SOFIE) observations, J. Geophys. Res., 115, D10204, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012451, 2010.
Baumgarten, G., Fricke, K. H., and von Cossart, G.: Investigation of the shape of noctilucent cloud particles by polarization lidar technique, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29, 8.1–8.4, https://doi.org/10.1029/2001GL013877, 2002.
Baumgarten, G., Fiedler, J., and von Cossart, G.: The size of noctilucent cloud particles above ALOMAR (69N,16E): Optical modeling and method description, Adv. Space Res., 40, 772–784, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2007.01.018, 2007.
Baumgarten, G., Fiedler, J., and Rapp, M.: On microphysical processes of noctilucent clouds (NLC): observations and modeling of mean and width of the particle size-distribution, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 6661–6668, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-6661-2010, 2010.
Berger, U.: Modeling of middle atmosphere dynamics with LIMA, J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phy., 70, 1170–1200, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2008.02.004, 2008.
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Short summary
For the first time the shape of noctilucent cloud particles is analyzed with a 3-D Lagrangian model. Three-color lidar measurements are compared directly to optical modeling of NLC simulations with non-spherical shapes: a mix of elongated and flattened cylindrical ice particles consistent with measurements. Comparison is best if flattened particles form a majority, with mean axis ratio around 2.8. NLCs from cylindrical particles are slightly brighter and consist of fewer but larger ice particle.
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