On the other hand, clouds related to our weather systems form in the troposphere, the lowest layer of the environment extending from ground level to an elevation of about 10 kilometers (6 miles). The troposphere appears in this image as the orange-tan layer immediately above the Earths surface area (which is not noticeable).
Observational Patterns and Changes
Polar mesospheric clouds are best seen at dawn or sunset when the Sun is in between 6 and 16 degrees below the horizon and brightens the clouds from below. These clouds have traditionally been seen just in greater latitude regions– normally higher than 50 degrees north or 50 degrees south– throughout each hemispheres summer season months. However in current years, polar mesospheric clouds have actually become brighter and more noticeable to observers in middle latitudes. The polar mesospheric clouds in this image were observed by the spaceport stations team while in orbit over the Mediterranean Sea at around 40 degrees north latitude.
Scientific Inquiry Into Changes
Scientists are investigating why the clouds are ending up being brighter and more noticeable in mid-latitudes. Two mechanisms that might be driving this change are increased humidity in the mesosphere due to methane breaking down into water, and the result of exhaust plumes from introducing space cars.
Astronaut photo ISS067-E-183948 was gotten on July 9, 2022, with a Nikon D5 digital electronic camera using a focal length of 200 millimeters. It is supplied by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space. The International Space Station Program supports the lab as part of the ISS National Lab to assist astronauts take images of Earth that will be of the greatest worth to researchers and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet.
Photograph of polar mesospheric clouds on July 9, 2022, during an orbital sundown, recorded by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station.
Once restricted to greater latitudes, polar mesospheric clouds are ending up being brighter and more visible over mid-latitudes.
An astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) took this oblique photo of polar mesospheric clouds during one of the 16 sundowns visible from the station each day. Polar mesospheric clouds, also called night-shining or noctilucent clouds, appear as wispy structures.
Polar mesospheric clouds are the highest-altitude clouds in Earths atmosphere and form at elevations of just over 80 kilometers (50 miles). The clouds show up to people and instruments at ground level up to low-Earth orbit. They are particularly emphasized in images from the space station due to the crews side-on view throughout a less-dense part of the atmosphere.
An astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) took this oblique photo of polar mesospheric clouds during one of the 16 sunsets visible from the station each day. Polar mesospheric clouds, also called noctilucent or night-shining clouds, appear as wispy structures. Polar mesospheric clouds are the highest-altitude clouds in Earths environment and type at elevations of just over 80 kilometers (50 miles). Polar mesospheric clouds are best seen at dawn or dusk when the Sun is between 6 and 16 degrees listed below the horizon and lights up the clouds from below.