Polar Mesospheric Cloud Studies

该奖项是为了表彰极地中间层云（PMC）现象的研究，以及它们与中间层区域大气参数的关系，以及与极地中间层全球变化的关系。越来越多的证据表明PMC的年代际变化。了解自然原因很重要，这可能与人类的农业和工业活动有关。这项研究将包括分析来自各种卫星和地面观测技术的数据，并利用散射理论将各种测量结果整合到一个共同的基础上进行相互比较。将建立一个经验光学模型，使各种观测结果能够相互比较。一个经验大气模式将提供过去十年卫星数据（以及火箭载数据）的综合。该模式将描述夏季极地地区的温度和水汽分布，并提供这些变量在长达11年太阳周期的时间尺度上的时间变化信息。这项研究的潜在影响是提高对高层大气，特别是极地中间层全球变化重要性的理解和认识。与全球变暖现象一起，该项目将提高公众对这一非常不同的对高层大气的人为影响的认识。

Thomas, GaryATM-9983872This award is for a study of the phenomenon of Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMC), and their relationship to atmospheric parameters in the mesopause region, and to global change in the polar mesosphere. There is growing evidence of decadal time scale changes in PMC. It is important to understand the physical causes, which may be related to activities of mankind, both agricultural and industrial. The study will involve analysis of data from various satellite and ground-based observational techniques, and use of scattering theory to integrate the various measurements onto a common basis for intercomparison. An empirical optical model will be constructed which will permit observations of various kinds to be intercompared. An empirical atmospheric model will provide an integration of satellite data (along with rocketborne data) from the past decade. This model will describe the temperature and water vapor distributions for the summertime polar regions, and also provide information on the time changes of these variables over time scales up to an 11-year solar cycle. The potential impact of this study is to produce an increased understanding and awareness of the importance of global change in the upper atmosphere, and specifically, the polar mesosphere. Together with the global warming phenonmenon, this project will foster public awareness of this very different anthropogenic impact on the upper atmosphere.