loading page

Absorption of solar radiation by noctilucent clouds in a changing climate
  • +1
  • Franz-Josef Luebken,
  • Gerd Baumgarten,
  • Mykhaylo Grygylashvyly,
  • Ashique Vellalassery
Franz-Josef Luebken
Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Gerd Baumgarten
Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University
Author Profile
Mykhaylo Grygylashvyly
Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the University Rostock in Kühlungsborn
Author Profile
Ashique Vellalassery
Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics
Author Profile

Abstract

The future increase of methane concentration leads to a raise in water vapor abundance in the middle atmosphere. This will enhance the brightness of noctilucent clouds (NLC). We use an atmospheric background model and a microphysical model to study the associated absorption of solar radiation in the period 1950 to 2100. At 69°N mean absorptions at λ=126nm will increase from ~3% to ~7% from 1950 to 2100, respectively. Locally, the absorption can increase to ~30% in the year 2100. In the visible we find an increase from 0.0030% (1950) to 0,020% (2100), i.e., by a factor of ~7, and local maxima up to 0.35% in 2100. The results are similar for polar latitudes (79°N) but are smaller at middle latitudes (58°N). Future mean absorptions are comparable to solar cycle variations, but much larger locally. The ice mass bound in NLC increases from 677 to 1871 tons in 1950 and 2100.
20 Nov 2023Submitted to ESS Open Archive
22 Nov 2023Published in ESS Open Archive