Stratospheric Clouds Research Articles

Continuous Lidar Monitoring of Polar Stratospheric Clouds at the South Pole

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSC) play a primary role in the formation of annual ozone holes over Antarctica during the austral sunrise. Meridional temperature gradients in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere, caused by strong radiative cooling, induce a broad dynamic vortex centered near the South Pole that decouples and insulates the winter polar airmass. PSC nucleate and grow as vortex temperatures gradually fall below equilibrium saturation and frost points for ambient sulfate, nitrate, and water vapor concentrations (generally below 197 K). Cloud surfaces promote heterogeneous reactions that convert stable chlorine and bromine-based molecules into photochemically active ones. As spring nears, and the sun reappears and rises, photolysis decomposes these partitioned compounds into individual halogen atoms that react with and catalytically destroy thousands of ozone molecules before they are stochastically neutralized. Despite a generic understanding of the ozone hole paradigm, many key components of the system, such as cloud occurrence, phase, and composition; particle growth mechanisms; and denitrification of the lower stratosphere have yet to be fully resolved. Satellite-based observations have dramatically improved the ability to detect PSC and quantify seasonal polar chemical partitioning. However, coverage directly over the Antarctic plateau is limited by polar-orbiting tracks that rarely exceed 80 degrees S. In December 1999, a NASA Micropulse Lidar Network instrument (MPLNET) was first deployed to the NOAA Earth Systems Research Laboratory (ESRL) Atmospheric Research Observatory at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station for continuous cloud and aerosol profiling. MPLNET instruments are eye-safe, capable of full-time autonomous operation, and suitably rugged and compact to withstand long-term remote deployment. With only brief interruptions during the winters of 2001 and 2002, a nearly continuous data archive exists to the present.

Detection of temperatures conducive to Arctic polar stratospheric clouds using CHAMP and SAC‐C radio occultation data

We use global positioning system radio occultation (GPSRO) data from the Challenging Mini‐Satellite Payload for Geophysical Research and Application (CHAMP) and Satélite de Applicaciones Científicas‐C (SAC‐C) low Earth orbiting satellites to investigate the occurrence of air with temperatures cold enough to allow the formation of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) during four successive Arctic winters spanning 2001 to 2005. The GPSRO data are validated and compared with analysis data from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts using a series of criteria designed to eliminate faulty soundings but retain profiles which do not differ too strongly from the model data. We find that GPSRO is able to detect more PSC‐prone temperature profiles during winters with disturbed conditions (in particular during December 2001 and 2003) than the analysis, but that the model fully captures the extent of PSC‐prone air in winters with strong, cold vortices (in particular December 2002 and January 2005). Examination of detailed profiles for December 2001 shows that this difference is due to the ability of GPSRO to detect short‐vertical wavelength features which may represent either localized gravity or global‐scale planetary waves. Since the GPSRO data are now being directly assimilated into operational analysis systems, the benefits of the higher vertical resolution retrievals it provides should become evident in future observational studies of PSC formation and ozone loss, particularly under the disturbed conditions noted in several recent winters.

Direct ab initio dynamics calculations for rates and the kinetic isotope effects of multiproton transfer in ClONO2+HCl→HNO3+Cl2 reactions with water clusters: Breakdown of the rule of the geometric mean

We performed high-level quantum mechanical calculations and direct ab initio reaction dynamics calculations for multiple proton transfers in ClONO(2)+HCl-->HNO(3)+Cl(2) with water clusters containing one to two water molecules, which can be used as a model of the reactions occurring on ice surface in stratospheric clouds. The energy barriers of these reactions depend on the number of water molecules involved. Two and three protons in these reactions with one and two water molecules, respectively, were transferred concertedly and asynchronously. The potential energy barrier at the MP2/6-311++(3df,3pd)//MP2/6-31G(d,p) level was 4.8 kcal/mol for the triple proton transfer involving two water molecules with a rate constant of 1.6x10(3) s(-1) at 197 K. The potential energy curve near the saddle points was very flat and the tunneling effect on the proton transfer was negligible. The primary HH/DH kinetic isotope effect for the double proton transfer involving one water molecule was lower than unity due to the enhanced force constant at the transition state. The rule of the geometric mean for the concerted proton transfer does not hold in these reactions because the zero-point energy changes of each proton in flight at the transition state are not the same in the highly asynchronous processes.

Variability of the Northern Hemisphere polar stratospheric cloud potential: the role of North Pacific disturbances

AbstractThe potential of the Arctic stratosphere to sustain the formation of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) is a key factor in determining the amount of ozone destroyed each winter, and is often measured as a ‘PSC volume’. The latter quantity has been shown to closely follow a near‐linear compact relationship with winter‐averaged column ozone loss, and displays a high variability from monthly to decadal time‐scales. We examine the connection between meteorological conditions in the troposphere and the variability of lower polar stratospheric temperatures over the last four decades, and specifically, conditions leading to a high PSC volume. In addition to the well‐established connection between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the polar vortex, we demonstrate the large influence of precursory disturbances over the North Pacific and the Far East, the region of maximum climatological upward wave activity flux. Namely, very high monthly PSC volume (in the top 12%) predominantly follows the development of positive tropospheric height anomalies over the Far East, which lead to a weakening of the background planetary wave trough, and lessened upward wave activity flux into the stratosphere. Precursory anomalies over the Far East are reminiscent of East Asian monsoon amplification episodes. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society

Polar stratospheric clouds over western Europe

Polar stratospheric clouds over western Europe

Stratospheric variability and tropospheric ozone

Changes in the stratosphere‐troposphere exchange (STE) of ozone over the last few decades have altered the tropospheric ozone abundance and are likely to continue doing so in the coming century as climate changes. Combining an updated linearized stratospheric ozone chemistry (Linoz v2) with parameterized polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) chemistry, a 5‐year (2001–2005) sequence of the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) meteorology data, and the University of California, Irvine (UCI) chemistry transport model (CTM), we examined variations in STE O3 flux and how it perturbs tropospheric O3. Our estimate for the current STE ozone flux is 290 Tg/a in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and 225 Tg/a in the Southern Hemisphere (SH). The 2001–2005 interannual root‐mean‐square (RMS) variability is 25 Tg/a for the NH and 30 Tg/a for the SH. STE drives a seasonal peak‐to‐peak NH variability in tropospheric ozone of about 7–8 Dobson unit (DU). Of the interannual STE variance, 20% and 45% can be explained by the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) in the NH and SH, respectively. The CTM matches the observed QBO variations in total column ozone, and the STE O3 flux shows negative anomalies over the midlatitudes during the easterly phases of the QBO. When the observed column ozone depletion from 1979 to 2004 is modeled with Linoz v2, we predicted STE reductions of at most 10% in the NH, corresponding to a mean decrease of 1 ppb in tropospheric O3.

HOCl chemistry in the Antarctic Stratospheric Vortex 2002, as observed with the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS)

Abstract. In the 2002 Antarctic polar vortex enhanced HOCl mixing ratios were detected by the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding both at altitudes of around 35 km (1000 K potential temperature), where HOCl abundances are ruled by gas phase chemistry and at around 18–24 km (475–625 K), which belongs to the altitude domain where heterogeneous chlorine chemistry is relevant. At altitudes of 33 to 40 km polar vortex HOCl mixing ratios were found to be around 0.14 ppbv as long as the polar vortex was intact, centered at the pole, and thus received relatively little sunlight. This is the altitude region where in midlatitudinal and tropic atmospheres peak HOCl mixing ratios significantly above 0.2 ppbv (in terms of daily mean values) are observed. After deformation and displacement of the polar vortex in the course of a major warming, ClO-rich vortex air was more exposed to sunlight, where enhanced HOx abundances led to largely increased HOCl mixing ratios (up to 0.3 ppbv), exceeding typical midlatitudinal and tropical amounts significantly. The HOCl increase was preceded by an increase of ClO. Model runs could reproduce these measurements only when the Stimpfle et al. (1979) rate constant for the reaction ClO+HO2→HOCl+O2 was used but not with the current JPL recommendation. At an altitude of 24 km, HOCl mixing ratios of up to 0.15 ppbv were detected. This HOCl enhancement, which is already visible in 18 September data, is attributed to heterogeneous chemistry, which is in agreement with observations of polar stratospheric clouds. The measurements were compared to a model run where no polar stratospheric clouds appeared during the observation period. The fact that HOCl still was produced in the model run suggests that a significant part of HOCl was generated from ClO rather than directly via heterogeneous reaction. Excess ClO, lower ClONO2 and earlier loss of HOCl in the measurements are attributed to ongoing heterogeneous chemistry which is not reproduced by the model. On 11 October, polar vortex mean daytime mixing ratios were only 0.03 ppbv.

Characteristics of cirrus clouds and its radiative properties based on lidar observation over Chung-Li, Taiwan

In this paper, characterization of cirrus clouds are made by using data from ground based polarization lidar and radiosonde measurements over Chung-Li (24.58°N, 121.10°E), Taiwan for a period of 1999–2006. During this period, the occurrence of cirrus clouds is about 37% of the total measurement nights over the lidar site. Analysis of the measurement gives the statistical characteristics about the macrophysical properties such as occurrence height, ambient temperature, and its geometrical thickness while the microphysical properties are interpreted in terms of extinction coefficient, optical depth, effective lidar ratio and depolarization ratio. The effective lidar ratio has been retrieved by using the simulation technique of backscattered lidar signals. The effect of multiple scattering has been taken into the account by a model calculation. Summer (Jun–Aug) shows the maximum appearances of cirrus due to its formation mechanism. It is shown that tropopause cirrus clouds may occur with a probability of about 24%. These clouds are usually optically thin and having laminar in structure with some cases resembling the characteristics similar to that of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs). The radiative properties of the cirrus clouds are also discussed in detail by the empirical equations with results show a positive feedback on any climate change.

CALIPSO observations of wave‐induced PSCs with near‐unity optical depth over Antarctica in 2006–2007

Ground‐based and satellite observations have hinted at the existence of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) with relatively high optical depths, even if optical depth values are hard to come by. This study documents a type II PSC observed from spaceborne lidar, with visible optical depths up to 0.8. Comparisons with multiple temperature fields, including reanalyses and results from mesoscale simulations, suggest that intense small‐scale temperature fluctuations due to gravity waves play an important role in its formation, while nearby observations show the presence of a potentially related type Ia PSC farther downstream inside the polar vortex. Following this first case, the geographic distribution and microphysical properties of PSCs with optical depths above 0.3 are explored over Antarctica during the 2006 and 2007 austral winters. These clouds are rare (less than 1% of profiles) and concentrated over areas where strong winds hit steep ground slopes in the Western Hemisphere, especially over the peninsula. Such PSCs are colder than the general PSC population, and their detection is correlated with daily temperature minima across Antarctica. Lidar and depolarization ratios within these clouds suggest they are most likely ice‐based (type II). Similarities between the case study and other PSCs suggest they might share the same formation mechanisms.

The influence of tropical Indian Ocean warming on the Southern Hemispheric stratospheric polar vortex

During the past decades, concurrent with global warming, most of global oceans, particularly the tropical Indian Ocean, have become warmer. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemispheric stratospheric polar vortex (SPV) exhibits a deepening trend. Although previous modeling studies reveal that radiative cooling effect of ozone depletion plays a dominant role in causing the deepening of SPV, the simulated ozone-depletion-induced SPV deepening is stronger than the observed. This suggests that there must be other factors canceling a fraction of the influence of the ozone depletion. Whether the tropical Indian Ocean warming (IOW) is such a factor is unclear. This issue is addressed by conducting ensemble atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) experiments. And one idealized IOW with the amplitude as the observed is prescribed to force four AGCMs. The results show that the IOW tends to warm the southern polar stratosphere, and thus weakens SPV in austral spring to summer. Hence, it offsets a fraction of the effect of the ozone depletion. This implies that global warming will favor ozone recovery, since a warmer southern polar stratosphere is un-beneficial for the formation of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), which is a key factor to ozone depletion chemical reactions.

Comparison between CALIPSO and MIPAS observations of polar stratospheric clouds

Polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) detection, top height, and composition as derived from measurements by the infrared emission limb sounder Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) on Envisat and the Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) lidar have been compared. The comparisons are based on coincident observations from the 2006 and 2007 Antarctic and the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 Arctic winters. During the middle of the Antarctic season, very good agreement in common PSC detection (around 90%) has been found. At the beginning and end of the Antarctic PSC season and in the Arctic, the frequency of common PSC detection is generally less (60–70%) which can be explained by cloud inhomogeneity and viewing geometry differences. MIPAS PSC top heights are about 0–2 km lower than CALIPSO top heights with larger offsets at higher altitudes. The negative bias of MIPAS PSC top heights can be modeled under the assumptions of limited horizontal cloud extent and a field‐of‐view–dependent sensitivity. The comparisons further show a high degree of consistency between PSC composition derived from the fundamentally different classification approaches of the two instruments. Remaining differences can be explained considering the physical limitations of each approach and the definition of composition boundaries within the classification scheme of each instrument.

Microphysical modeling of a midlatitude “polar stratospheric cloud” event: Comparisons against multiwavelength ground‐based and spaceborne lidar data

A high‐resolution transport model containing a fully explicit size‐resolving microphysical scheme is used to study a large‐scale polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) case detected by lidar at midlatitudes between 17 and 23 February 2008. The model simulations, initialized using European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) fields and Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) Aura data, are validated locally against ground‐based (Institute for Tropospheric Research Multiwavelength Atmospheric Raman lidar for Temperature, Humidity, and Aerosol profiling (IfT MARTHA)) lidar measurements at Leipzig and globally against spaceborne (Cloud‐Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization/Cloud‐Aerosol‐Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIOP/CALIPSO)) lidar backscatter measurements. By assuming a 1 K cold bias on the ECMWF temperatures and under the assumption of equilibrated spherical PSC particles, our model produces fields of optical and microphysical parameters like the total surface area density (A) and volume (V). A, and V, as well as the median radius of the PSC size distribution, compare favorably to the corresponding values derived from multiwavelength lidar backscatter measurements. Around 21 km, A and V are found to be around 10 μm2 cm−3 and 1 μm3 cm−3, respectively. The median radius of the Supercooled Ternary Solution particle size distribution is estimated to be around 0.3 μm using both the model calculations and the lidar‐derived size distribution parameters. Overall, despite the simplifications on the microphysical scheme, the model is able to reproduce the salient features of the local and global lidar observations. The results clearly demonstrate the value of CALIOP products for large‐scale studies, exploiting chemistry‐transport models.

A global survey of CALIPSO linear depolarization ratios in ice clouds: Initial findings

Linear depolarization ratio (δ) data from the summer/winter seasons over the first 2 years of Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite operations in the green (0.532 μm) laser channel are analyzed and interpreted in terms of ice cloud microphysical properties. That is, we use variations in δ as a proxy of cloud formation and environmental conditions that affect ice crystal shape and orientation. The cloud detection algorithm is tuned mainly to cirrus clouds, but also includes polar stratospheric clouds (PSC) and optically thin, low and midlevel ice clouds at high latitudes. As anticipated from ground‐based polarization lidar studies, δ increase with increasing height/decreasing temperature, and the effects of horizontally oriented plate crystals in lowing δ are evident by comparing data obtained close to the nadir (0.3°) and off‐nadir (3.0°) pointing directions. These differences in δ average 0.01–0.03, although this anisotropic scattering effect is particularly apparent at low altitudes in the mid and high latitudes. Unexpected findings include decreasing δ with increasing latitude, and δ in detected PSC that are usually similar to cirrus clouds. However, δ in PSC are lower in a belt in the lower stratosphere in the Southern Hemisphere and generally lower in the Northern Hemisphere, but higher in lower stratospheric nacreous clouds in both hemispheres. There are also significant differences in the ice cloud δ measured at night and day, but this is assumed to result from factors associated with day/night differences in CALIPSO data collection. Global average δ are 0.34–0.36 for day, and 0.23–0.26 for night.

A review of optical measurements at the aerosol and cloud chamber AIDA

This paper provides a survey of recent studies on the optical properties of aerosol and cloud particles that have been conducted at the AIDA facility of Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (Aerosol Interactions and Dynamics in the Atmosphere). Reflecting the broad accessible temperature range of the AIDA chamber which extends from ambient temperature down to 183 K, the investigations feature a broad diversity of research topics, such as the wavelength-dependence of the specific absorption cross sections of soot and mineral dust aerosols at room temperature, depolarization and infrared extinction measurements of ice crystal clouds generated at temperatures below 235 K, and the optical properties of polar stratospheric cloud constituents whose formation was studied in chamber experiments at temperatures well below 200 K. After reviewing the AIDA research activity of the past decade and introducing the optical instrumentation of the AIDA facility, this paper presents illustrative examples of ongoing and already published work on optical measurements of soot aerosols, mineral dust particles, and ice crystal clouds.

A tropical “NAT‐like” belt observed from space

The optical properties of cold tropical tropopause clouds are examined on a global scale, using two years of space‐borne lidar observations from CALIPSO (June 2006–May 2008). The linear depolarization ratio, color ratio and backscatter signal are analyzed in tropical clouds colder than 200 K in a way similar to recent studies of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs). It is found that the three categories of particles encountered in PSC (Ice, Sulfate Ternary Solutions or STS, and Nitric Acid Trihydrate or NAT) do also occur in tropical cold cloud layers. Particles with optical properties similar to NAT are few, but they cover the tropical belt and represent about 20% of cold cloud tropical particles. The optical behavior of these particles requires them to be small, non‐spherical, optically thin, and persistent in the TTL at temperatures colder than 200 K; NAT particles and very small ice crystals meet these criteria.

Size distribution time series of a polar stratospheric cloud observed above Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmosphere Research (ALOMAR) (69°N) and analyzed from multiwavelength lidar measurements during winter 2005

A case study of a polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) is described using multiwavelength (355, 532, and 1064 nm) lidar measurements performed at the Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmosphere Research (ALOMAR) on 6 December 2005. Rotational Raman signals at 529 and 530 nm are used to derive a temperature field within the cloud using the rotational Raman technique (RRT). The PSC size distributions are retrieved between 1500 and 2000 UTC through a combination of statistical filtering and best match approaches. Several PSC types were detected between 22 and 26 km during the measurement session. Liquid ternary aerosols are identified before about 1600 and after 1900 UTC typically; their averaged retrieved size distribution parameters and associated errors at the backscatter peak are: No ≈ 1–10 cm−3 (50%), rm ≈ 0.15 μm (20%), and σ ≈ 1.2 (15%). A mode of much larger particles is detected between 1600 and 1900 UTC (No ≈ 0.04 cm−3 (30%), rm ≈ 1.50 μm (15%), and σ ≈ 1.37 (10%). The different PSC types are also identified using standard semiempirical classifications, based on lidar backscatter, temperature, and depolarization. Overall, the characteristics of the retrieved size distributions are consistent with these classifications. They all suggest that these very large particles are certainly nitric acid trihydrate that could have been generated by the strong gravity wave activity visible in the temperature profiles. The results demonstrate that multiwavelength lidar data coupled to both RRT temperatures and our size distribution retrieval can provide useful additional information for identification of PSC types and for direct comparisons with microphysical model simulations.

Past and future conditions for polar stratospheric cloud formation simulated by the Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model

Abstract. We analyze here the polar stratospheric temperatures in an ensemble of three 150-year integrations of the Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model (CMAM), an interactive chemistry-climate model which simulates ozone depletion and recovery, as well as climate change. A key motivation is to understand possible mechanisms for the observed trend in the extent of conditions favourable for polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) formation in the Arctic winter lower stratosphere. We find that in the Antarctic winter lower stratosphere, the low temperature extremes required for PSC formation increase in the model as ozone is depleted, but remain steady through the twenty-first century as the warming from ozone recovery roughly balances the cooling from climate change. Thus, ozone depletion itself plays a major role in the Antarctic trends in low temperature extremes. The model trend in low temperature extremes in the Arctic through the latter half of the twentieth century is weaker and less statistically robust than the observed trend. It is not projected to continue into the future. Ozone depletion in the Arctic is weaker in the CMAM than in observations, which may account for the weak past trend in low temperature extremes. In the future, radiative cooling in the Arctic winter due to climate change is more than compensated by an increase in dynamically driven downwelling over the pole.

Molecular SIMS – A journey from single crystal to biological surface studies

The development of Static or Molecular secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) is reviewed with particular reference to the journey made by the Manchester group and its collaborators. The earliest studies focussed on the application of static SIMS to single crystal surface studies. These studies successfully demonstrated that static SIMS delivered information on the delicate adsorbate state that mirrored that obtained by other surface science techniques. Subsequent application of the technique to studying the state and reactivity of bimetallic surfaces stimulated by collaboration with the Ertl group, demonstrated that static SIMS could be applied to the investigation of quite complex surface chemistry. This success stimulated the application of the technique to surface chemistry studies of much more complex systems such as polymers, ice mimics of polar stratospheric clouds, aerosols, culminating in biological systems. The need to enhance ion yields of the larger biological molecules led to the development and introduction of polyatomic primary ion beams, most notably based on C 60 buckminsterfullerene. This type of ion beam has transformed molecular analysis by SIMS. Not only have the yields of larger molecular ions been greatly increased, the bombardment induced damage that necessitated the static limit has been dramatically reduced such that for many materials the static limit requirement can be abandoned. A completely new analytical regime has opened up so that molecular depth profiling and 3D chemical imaging is possible. To fully realise the new capabilities for biological analysis a new generation of ToF-SIMS instrument is being developed that overcomes the compromises of pulsed beam instruments and that enables high mass resolution, high spatial resolution and high duty cycle to be attained simultaneously.

Simulation Studies on Seasonal Variations of the Stratospheric Dynamics and Trace Gases Using Coupled Chemistry-Climate Model WACCM-3

利用美国NCAR最新的化学-气候耦合模式WACCM-3对平流层风场、温度场以及平流层臭氧等多种微量气体成分(O3, CH4, N2O, H2O, HCl, HNO3)的季节变化进行了数值模拟, 并使用ECMWF再分析资料与美国UARS卫星 搭载的HALOE, MLS, CLAES等探测器的观测资料, 对模式输出的动力、热力及化学成分浓度的气候平均值进行了验证. 结果表明, 在气候平均海表温度值驱动下, WACCM-3模式能够很好地再现ECMWF资料中平流层纬向平均风场与温度场的季节变化. 模拟结果中平流层化学成分的经向-垂直分布及其季节变化与卫星观测结果基本一致. 模式的动力、热力场在极地平流层以及热带对流层顶等区域存在一定的偏差. 这些偏差对于微量气体成分分布 的模拟具有一定影响, 特别是南半球冬(7月)、春(10月)季节南极平流层低层极夜 急流偏强, 造成极地地区附近的输送障碍增强, 从而导致CH4, N2O, H2O浓度比观测偏低. 此外, WACCM-3缺少热带平流层风场的准两年振荡(QBO) 机制, 这对于热带平流层东风急流以及低纬度平流层O3, CH4, N2O, H2O等成分经向输送的模拟结果也有一定影响.

Antarctic NAT PSC belt of June 2003: Observational validation of the mountain wave seeding hypothesis

[1] Satellite observations of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) over Antarctica in June 2003 revealed small nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) particles forming suddenly along the vortex edge. Models suggest the trigger was mountain waves over the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) forming ice for NAT nucleation. We test this hypothesis by analyzing perturbations in stratospheric radiances from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). AIRS data show mountain waves over the AP on 10–14 June, with no resolved wave activity before or after. Peak wave temperature amplitudes derived from independent 40 hPa channels all return values of 10–12 K, in agreement with values used to model this NAT event. These observations support a NAT wake from a small region of mountain wave activity over the AP as the source of this circumpolar NAT outbreak.