Noctilucent Clouds - Gadsden, Michael

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Résumé :
This book brings together what is known about noctilucent clouds from many separate sources to provide a single reference and commentary for researchers. It provides a comprehensive list of published works, from the very earliest times to the present day. In one volume, the dedicated research worker, the interested scientist, as well as the enthusiastic amateur observer, is offered for easy reference a statement of the present-day studies of what is, after all, a beautiful natural phenomenon.

Sommaire:
1 Noctilucent Clouds.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 How, When and Where Noctilucent Clouds Are Seen.- 1.3 Amateur Observations.- 1.4 CloudTypes.- 1.5 Structure of the Upper Atmosphere.- 2 History.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 The Discovery of the Shining Night-Clouds.- 2.3 Measurements of Noctilucent Clouds.- 2.4 The Middle Period of Noctilucent Cloud Research.- 3 Observations from Ground Level.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 The Geometry of Twilight Scattering.- 3.3 Latitude of Observation.- 3.4 Absorption of Light in the Atmosphere.- 3.5 Height of Noctilucent Clouds.- 3.6 Drift Motions.- 3.7 Wave Structure.- 4 Spectrophotometry.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Spectroscopic Observations.- 4.3 Spectrophotometry from Ground Level.- 4.4 Rocket-Borne Photometers.- 4.5 Spectrophotometry from Satellites.- 4.6 Conclusions About Cloud Particle Sizes.- 5 Polarimetry.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Polarization by Scattering.- 5.3 Measurement of Polarized Light.- 5.4 Polarization Measured from Ground Level.- 5.5 Measurements of Polarization from Rockets.- 5.6 Conclusions About Cloud Particle Sizes.- 6 Rocket-Borne Sampling.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Flights over Sweden in 1962 and 1967.- 6.3 Rights over Sweden in 1970 and 1971.- 6.4 Flights over Canada in 1968 and 1970.- 6.5 Collectors Flown by Max-Planck-Institut Researchers, 1968 to 1971.- 6.6 Conclusions About Cloud Particle Sizes.- 7 Variation of Occurrence.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Sunspot Cycle.- 7.3 Seasonal Frequency of Noctilucent Clouds.- 7.4 Climatology of the Mesosphere.- 8 Other Observations.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Association with Hydroxyl Airglow Emission.- 8.3 Association with Aurora and Planetary Magnetic Activity.- 8.4 Lunar Effects.- 8.5 Lidar Observations.- 8.6 Artificial Noctilucent Clouds.- 8.7 Abnormal Observations.- 9 Environment ofNoctilucent Clouds.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Atmospheric in Temperature.- 9.3 D-Region.- 9.4 Dust.- 9.5 Water Vapour in the Mesosphere.- 9.6 Radiation.- 9.7 Rates of Growth.- 9.8 Nucleation of Ice.- 9.9 Settling of Particles.- 9.10 Modelling Noctilucent Clouds by Numerical Simulation.- 10 The Nature of Noctilucent Clouds.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Formation in Noctilucent Clouds.- 10.3 Growth of Noctilucent Cloud Particles.- 10.4 Evaporation of Noctilucent Cloud Particles.- 10.5 The Relationship Between Polar Mesospheric Clouds and Noctilucent Clouds.- 10.6 Summary.- 11 Bibliography.- A) Before 1900.- B) 1900-1950.- C) Bibliography since 1950.- Appendix 1: Atmospheric Refraction.- Appendix 2: Atmospheric Transmission Along Grazing Pays.- Name Index.