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Polar stratospheric clouds inferred from satellite dataAnomalously high radiances from the ozone channel of the Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) sounding instrument have been observed in the Northern Hemisphere winter lower stratosphere. Such events, thought to be due to polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), are examined further by computing relative humidities using Stratospheric Sounding Unit temperatures and water vapor measurements from the LIMS Map Archive Tape analyses. Regions identified as PSCs are found to correspond closely to regions of high humidity. While instances of saturation were found, the average humidity at the centers of 39 PSCs was calculated to be 58 percent. Possible reasons for this apparent discrepancy are discussed. Applying a similar approach to the Southern Hemisphere, in 1979, virtually no PSCs are found in the vortex after September 10 at 20 km. This result has important implications for a number of proposed explanations for the Antarctic ozone hole.
Document ID
19870036267
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Austin, J.
(Meteorological Office Bracknell, United Kingdom)
Jones, R. L.
(Meteorological Office Bracknell, United Kingdom)
Remsberg, E. E.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Tuck, A. F.
(NOAA, Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder CO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1986
Publication Information
Volume: 13
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
87A23541
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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