Earth  ID: 3484

The First Season of Noctilucent Clouds from AIM

Visualizations by Tom Bridgman Released on December 10, 2007
The Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) mission is the first satellite dedicated to the study of noctilucent clouds. Noctilucent clouds, sometimes called Polar Mesospheric Clouds, were first reported in 1885. Forming at altitudes above 50 miles, they are so faint that they can only be seen from the ground in the reflected light of the Sun after it has set below the horizon. Since their discovery, their cause has been a subject of study as a possible indicator of climate change. For those interested in observing noctilucent clouds from the ground, there are images and information at SpaceWeather's Gallery of Noctilucent Clouds.
Download Options
This movie presents a daily accumulation of data from the AIM spacecraft for the northern hemisphere. The circular gap over the Earth's geographic pole is due to a gap in the satellite coverage.
Download Options
Opening push-in to the globe.
Download Options
A view of the northern hemsphere near the start of the cloud season (May 20, 2007).
Download Options
June 16, 2007
Download Options
June 23, 2007
Download Options
June 28, 2007
Download Options
July 9, 2007
Download Options
July 15, 2007
Download Options
July 20, 2007
Download Options
July 24, 2007
Download Options
August 1, 2007
Download Options
August 4, 2007
Download Options
August 5, 2007
Download Options
August 10, 2007
Download Options
August 15, 2007
Download Options
September 2, 2007: The End of the Season for the Northern hemisphere.
 

Used Elsewhere In

Rare Electric Blue Clouds Observed By NASA Balloon

For More Information

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/aim/mystery_clouds.html

Visualization Credits

Tom Bridgman (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Animator
James M. Russell III (Hampton University): Scientist
William Steigerwald (NASA/GSFC): Writer
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3484

Mission:
AIM

Data Used:
Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM)
2007-05-20 to 2007-09-02
view all stories where this data set is used
Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

Keywords:
DLESE >> Atmospheric science
SVS >> HDTV
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Climate Indicators
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Clouds
SVS >> AIM
SVS >> iPod
SVS >> Noctilucent Clouds
SVS >> For Educators
SVS >> Cloud Cover >> Frequency
SVS >> Atmospheric Construction
NASA Science >> Earth

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0