SAGE II (Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment) observations of polar stratospheric clouds near 50 degree N January 31-February 2, 1989

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL017i004p00405· OSTI ID:5332121

Pitts, M C ^[1]; Poole, L R; McCormick, M P ^[2]

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1. ST Systems Corporation, Hampton, VA (USA)
2. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (USA)

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) form at very cold temperatures which typically occur only at high latitudes during local winter. However, meteorological circumstances in the Arctic during late January 1989 led to PSC formation unusually far to the south, at latitudes (near 50{degree}N) being sampled during the period (January 31-February 2) by the orbiting SAGE II instrument. These unusual PSC sightings and the evolution of meteorological conditions which produced the episode are described. Profiles of SAGE II extinction measurements at 0.525 and 1.02 {mu}m show clear signatures of PSCs and indicate that the cloud particles were considerably larger than the background aerosol. It is most important to note that the clouds were sighted at a latitude where there was extensive sunlight, thus increasing the likelihood of ozone loss both locally and downstream due to enhancements in reactive chlorine expected from heterogeneous chemical processing within the PSCs.

• OSTI ID: 5332121
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Vol. 17:4; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CLOUDS
MONITORING
STRATOSPHERE
AEROSOLS
ARCTIC REGIONS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHLORINE
LATITUDE EFFECT
LOSSES
METEOROLOGY
OZONE
OZONE LAYER
PARTICLE SIZE
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
SATELLITES
SOLAR RADIATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELEMENTS
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
HALOGENS
LAYERS
NONMETALS
POLAR REGIONS
RADIATIONS
SIZE
SOLS
STELLAR RADIATION
VARIATIONS
540110*