Noctilucent Cloud observations at Davis

Perturbations to the thermodynamics and chemistry of the mesopause region can conceivably be caused by volcanic events and variations in solar activity. Long-term quantification of noctilucent cloud properties will aid in understanding and predicting natural and anthropogenic variability. DESIGN AND STRATEGY FOR INDICATOR MONITORING PROGRAM Spatial scale: Davis Station, Antarctica.

Temporal scale: Monthly values. Measurement technique: Lidar (532nm wavelength, minimum altitude resolution 18.7 metres). The raw data used in the analysis of this indicator are obtained from observations by the Davis Lidar in Rayleigh mode.

RESEARCH ISSUES changes in the extent and occurrence of noctilucent clouds have implications for the chemistry and climate of the mesopause region. To obtain a more comprehensive picture of the spatial extent of these changes, the underlying physics, and future implications, the Davis observations should be assimilated into research incorporating a diverse body of observations and model predictions. Important additional data will come the remote sensing of temperatures and winds in the mesopause region, from instruments at Davis such as the Czerny-Turner spectrometer, the MF radar and the proposed VHF radar, and other Antarctic measurements.