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Antarctic NAT PSC Belt of June 2003: Observational Validation of the Mountain Wave Seeding HypothesisSatellite observations of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) over Antarctica in June 2003 revealed small nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) particles forming suddenly along the vortex edge. Models suggest the trigger was mountain waves over the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) forming ice for NAT nucleation. We test this hypothesis by analyzing perturbations in stratospheric radiances from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). AIRS data show mountain waves over the AP on 10-14 June, with no resolved wave activity before or after. Peak wave temperature amplitudes derived from independent 40 hPa channels all return values of 10-12 K, in agreement with values used to model this NAT event. These observations support a NAT wake from a small region of mountain wave activity over the AP as the source of this circumpolar NAT outbreak.
Document ID
20100027355
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Eckermann, S. D.
(Naval Research Lab. Washington, DC, United States)
Hoffmann, L.
(Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe G.m.b.H. Karlsruhe, Germany)
Hoepfner, M.
(Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe G.m.b.H. Karlsruhe, Germany)
Wu, D. L.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Alexander, M. J.
(Northwest Research Associates, Inc. Boulder, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2009
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 36
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
AD-A522192
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNH08AE43I
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASA-NNH-08-AE431
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
PSC (POLAR STRATOSPHERIC CLOUDS)
AIRS (ATMOSPHERIC INFRARED SOUNDER)
NAT (NITRIC ACID TRIHYDRATE)
AP (ARCTIC PENINSULA)

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