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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1163
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1163
07 Nov 2022
 | 07 Nov 2022

Statistical analysis of observations of polar stratospheric clouds with a lidar in Kiruna, northern Sweden

Peter Voelger and Peter Dalin

Abstract. In the present paper, we analyze 11 years of lidar measurements to derive general characteristics of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) and to examine how mountain lee waves influence PSC properties. Measurements of PSCs were made with a backscatter lidar located in Kiruna, northern Sweden, in the lee of the Scandinavian mountain range. The statistical analysis demonstrates that nearly half of all observed PSCs consisted of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) particles while ice clouds were only a small fraction, supercooled ternary solution (STS) and a mixture of different components making up the rest. Most PSCs were observed around 22 km altitude. Mountain lee waves provide a distinct influence on PSC chemical composition and cloud height distribution. Ice PSCs were about 5 times as frequent and NAT clouds were about half as frequent under wave conditions. PSCs were on average at 2 km higher altitudes when under the influence of mountain lee waves.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

17 May 2023
Statistical analysis of observations of polar stratospheric clouds with a lidar in Kiruna, northern Sweden
Peter Voelger and Peter Dalin
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 5551–5565, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5551-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5551-2023, 2023
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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
We examined 11 winters of lidar measurements of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), performed in...
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