Ground-based observations of noctilucent clouds with a northern hemisphere network of automatic digital cameras

Abstract

For the first time we present an analysis of observations of noctilucent clouds obtained with a network of automatic digital cameras located at opposite sides of the northern hemisphere. The advantage of this network is that the cameras are located along the same latitude circle producing comparable measurements. We find that there is an indication of the 2-day planetary wave propagation influencing the occurrence frequency, geographical distribution and brightness variations of noctilucent clouds. The 5-day planetary wave has much less effect on noctilucent clouds than that of the 2-day wave, at least for the summers of 2006 and 2007. At the same time, bright noctilucent clouds tend to occur every successive night during short periods of 3–5 nights.