Skip to main content

Cold Clouds and polar aviation, polar stratospheric clouds, PSCs

Otherwise known as polar stratospheric clouds, PSCs, these striking images occur at FL 360 to 720 in extreme arctic cold, around 195K (-78deg Centigrade). These cloud pictures result from particles in the atmosphere. They also warn of extreme cold weather altimeter error and now possible ozone holes in the Arctic.[1] I wonder what implications for military or commercial pilots flying a polar rout at these altitudes. I would think the military helmet visor with complete peripheral protection against infra red would be sufficient, never mind the cosmic. Airline captains might consider goggles with peripheral protection in place of sun glasses and possibly closing the passenger window shades. Look out for the mountains below. "The mountains grow taller in the winter in Alaska and the arctic!"

"Scientists recently discovered that polar stratospheric clouds, long known to play an important role in Antarctic ozone destruction, are occurring with increasing frequency in the Arctic. These high altitude clouds that form only at very low temperatures help destroy ozone in two ways—they provide a surface which converts benign forms of chlorine into reactive, ozone-destroying forms, and they remove nitrogen compounds that moderate the destructive impact of chlorine. In recent years the atmosphere above the Arctic has been colder than usual, and polar stratospheric clouds have lasted into the spring. As a result, ozone levels have been decreasing.[2
[2] NASA http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/features/200402_tango/
[1] Nature 478, 469-475 (2011) Gloria l. Manney et al.
[3]Upper photo:http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v478/n7370/full/478462a.html
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Existentialism

There are more things in this World Horatio, than are dreamed of in your philosophies Shakespeare Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more: adjective relating to existence. "The climate crisis is an existential threat to the world." PHILOSOPHY concerned with existence, especially human existence as viewed in the theories of existentialism. "The existential dilemma is this: because we are free, we are also inherently responsible." LOGIC (of a proposition) affirming or implying the existence of a thing. the existential proposition that truth and reality are constructed fictions" Even physicists struggle with truth. Reality in the laws of physics repeatedly give way to new findings. The James Webb Telescope finds galaxies beyond the time and space of the established Universe. Anthropologists find evidence of civilizations earlier than documented history. What is truth? The use of the word existential as a syndrome for virtual truth begs the question o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rick Atkinson

THE FATE OF THE DAY , just released, The war for America QUOTE George Washington. Our conflict is not likely to cease so soon as every good man would wish....Our cause is noble. it is the cause of mankind, and the danger to it springs from ourselves. March 31, 1779
Post a Comment
Read more

Domestic Labor

A smal incrament of domestic economic activity drives a large increase in the GDP. Vvelocity times money supply equals gross domestic product (GDP). The Velocity in single didgits when multiplied by money in the trillions has far greater effect than interest rates. For many decades, society overlooked and denounced Domestic labord. IRS reporting requirements, imcontax on the worker and social stigma discouraged if not eliminated this valuable segment of the labor force. Tax free, regulation free, domestic employment would add a significant boost to the overall economy, employ the unemployable, and provide shelter to the homeless, not a hundred percent, but to a significant degree. Think affordable houskeeping, cooking, and babysitting for the single mother working long hours.
Post a Comment
Read more