Morning rocket launches can create a glow, and we’re not just talking about the launch event.
A new study links enhanced rocket launches to noctilucent clouds high in Earth’s atmosphere, increasing the frequency of rare cloud-forming events that may otherwise occur naturally. (Noctilucent or “noctilucent” describes thin and subtle blue-silver cloud streaks in the mesosphere.)
While the new study suggests that increased launches from private companies like SpaceX are increasing cloud appearances, the study fails to quantify how these rockets are related to other cloud-forming factors such as climate change.
“Space traffic plays an important role in the formation and variation of these clouds,” said lead author Michael Stevens, an atmospheric scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory, in a NASA press release (opens in new tab) 21 July.
Related: These NASA Rocket Launches to Study Earth’s Atmosphere Are Simply Beautiful (Photos)
Most of our planet’s clouds form in the layer of Earth’s atmosphere closest to our planet’s surface, the troposphere, which is between 1.2 miles (1.9 kilometers) and 11.4 miles (18 km) above Earth located. In contrast, noctilucent clouds are in the third layer, the mesosphere, at an altitude of 47 to 53 miles (76 to 85 km). No other clouds form so high above the earth.
In general, noctilucent clouds form naturally: as the atmospheric layers warmer closer to the Earth’s surface, it tends to cool the mesosphere. This pushes water vapor into the upper atmosphere, where the water crystals condense to form noctilucent clouds.
The ingredients for noctilucent clouds are similar to other types, according to the UK Met Office (opens in new tab), by requiring water vapour, dust and very low temperatures. However, conditions differ between atmospheric layers and this makes studying noctilucent clouds complex.
NASA’s Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite data collected between 2007 and 2021 suggest that launches occurring between 11 p.m 56th and 60th degrees north latitudes are found the usual region of clouds near the poles.
AIM’s data is believed to be key to letting scientists know how many noctilucent clouds form naturally and how many may result from human impacts like these launches. Scientists have already found a correlation between launches and the glossy clouds: “The more morning launches there were, the more noctilucent clouds appeared at mid-latitudes,” NASA officials wrote in the same statement.
Previous studies, NASA said, showed that the agency’s space shuttle released enough water vapor during launch to create glowing noctilucent clouds near the poles. However, since the Shuttle program concluded in 2011, space launches have increased significantly due to more commercial activity, blowing more water vapor high into the atmosphere.
The new study also found that northbound winds are stronger during morning takeoffs, potentially carrying exhaust fumes from frequent takeoffs from Florida or California toward the poles.
Other data consulted for the study found no correlation between noctilucent clouds with respect to the solar cycle, showing that changes in insolation cannot explain the annual frequency variation in cloud appearance.
“This study shows that even after space shuttle launches have ceased, space traffic controls the year-to-year variability of mid-latitude noctilucent clouds,” Stevens said
A study (opens in new tab) based on the research was published in Earth and Space Science on May 2; NASA highlighted the work in a statement (opens in new tab) published on July 21st.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace (opens in new tab). Follow us on Twitter @spacedotcom (opens in new tab) and further Facebook (opens in new tab).
#Rocket #launches #create #shiny #clouds #Poland #studies #show
Leave a Comment