Sun  ID: 13073

Rare Electric Blue Clouds Observed By NASA Balloon

On the cusp of our atmosphere live a thin group of seasonal electric blue clouds. Forming fifty miles above the poles in summer, these clouds are known as noctilucent clouds or polar mesospheric clouds — PMCs. A recent NASA long-duration balloon mission observed these clouds over the course of five days at their home in the mesosphere. The resulting photos, which scientists have just begun to analyze, will help us better understand turbulence in the atmosphere, as well as in oceans, lakes, and other planetary atmospheres, and may even improve weather forecasting.

For more information: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/nasa-balloon-mission-captures-electric-blue-clouds
 

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Credits

Joy Ng (USRA): Producer
Mara Johnson-Groh (Wyle Information Systems): Writer
Tom Bridgman (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Data Visualizer
William Putman (NASA/GSFC): Data Visualizer
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13073

This item is part of these series:
Balloon
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Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> AIM
SVS >> Noctilucent Clouds
NASA Science >> Sun
SVS >> Balloon
SVS >> PMC Turbo Mission