AIM's Cosmic Dust Experiment and Cloud Formation (2007)
2007 · Short film
Synopsis
Like clouds in other parts of the atmosphere, one element required for polar mesospheric clouds to form is tiny dust particles on which water vapor can accumulate and grow into ice crystals. Nearer to Earth's surface, clouds form from 'cloud condensation nuclei' that can be sea salt spray, desert dust, or other materials lofted from the surface. In the mesosphere it is thought that cosmic dust particles falling into the Earth's atmosphere might serve this same purpose, and the Cosmic Dust Experiment instrument on the Aeronomy of Ice Mission will be able to identify how important cosmic dust particles are in the lifecycle of these clouds. Note: This animation illustrates how dust particles with ice crystals form mesospheric clouds. Animator: Susan Twardy (HTSI). Scientist: James M. Russell III (Hampton University), Scott Bailey (Virginia Tech). Writer: Stefanie Misztal (UMBC).
Uploader's description on archive.org
Details
- Collection
- NASA
More like this
- Cassiopeia A - The Colorful Aftermath of a Violent Stellar Death (2006)
- Mixing Waters and Moving Ships off the North Carolina Coast (2000)
- Mixing Waters and Moving Ships off the North Carolina Coast : Image of the Day (2000)
- Hubble Reveals Ultraviolet Galactic Ring (2001)
- Unprecedented Fires in Southern Africa : Image of the Day (2000)
- Hubble Spies Huge Clusters of Stars Formed by Ancient Encounter (2001)
- Lockheed Electra - takeoff from runway (2003)
- Lockheed Electra - aerial view in flight (2003)
- Rainfall Totals from Tropical Storm Bill: Image of the Day (2003)
- Hurricane Isabel Genesis (2004)