Initial report on polar mesospheric cloud observations by Himawari-8

• Published in: Atmospheric measurement techniques Vol. 11; no. 11; pp. 6163 - 6168
• Main Authors: Tsuda, Takuo T., Hozumi, Yuta, Kawaura, Kento, Hosokawa, Keisuke, Suzuki, Hidehiko, Nakamura, Takuji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Katlenburg-Lindau Copernicus GmbH 13-11-2018; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Cloud observations; Clouds; Earth; Earth orbit; Earth orbits; Meteorological satellites; Polar environments; Polar mesospheric clouds; Polar regions; Satellite observation; Satellites
• ISSN: 1867-8548; 1867-1381; 1867-8548
• DOI: 10.5194/amt-11-6163-2018

We provide an initial report on polar mesospheric cloud (PMC) observations by
the Japanese Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) meteorological satellite
Himawari-8. Heights of the observed PMCs were estimated to be 80–82 km.
Observed PMCs were active only during summertime in both the northern and
southern polar regions. These observations are consistent with known PMC
behavior. From its almost fixed location relative to the Earth, Himawari-8 is
capable of continuously monitoring PMC every 10 min with three visible bands:
blue (0.47 µm), green (0.51 µm), and red (0.64 µm). Thus, Himawari-8
can contribute to PMC research in the near future.