Multi-Instrument Measurements of Noctilucent Clouds in Coordination with the AIM Satellite

With the recent launch of the NASA Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite in April 2007 the opportunity exists to perform novel coordinated satellite and ground-based measurements of noctilucent clouds (NLC), to better quantify their nature, temporal development, latitudinal extent and longitudinal variability. These measurements will also help shed new light on the long-standing question on the differences (if any) between NLC, which are naturally limited in their observation to latitude ranges of typically 50-65°, and Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMC) as detected at higher latitudes during the summer months from space borne instruments. Here we present new two-station image measurements of NLC from Edmonton, Canada (53° N) recorder during July 2007, providing detailed information on the cloud dynamics near their equatorward edge, for comparison with the UV cloud signatures as determined by the Cloud Imaging and Particle Size (CIPS) instrument on the AIM satellite. These results are then contrasted with high-latitude (65°N) cloud measurements using AIM in coordination with multi-station imager, lidar and radar observations of Polar Mesospheric Summer Echoes (PMSE) using the new PFISR system at Poker Flat, Alaska.