Correlation analysis of NLCs albedo, IWC, and mesopause temperature based on AIM observations in 2007—2014

This paper investigates measurements from the Cloud Imaging and Particle Size(CIPS) experiment and the Solar Occultation For Ice Experiment(SOFIE) onboard the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere(AIM) satellite in the northern(NH) and southern hemispheres (SH) during 2007—2014. We analyzed the trends of noctilucent clouds(NLCs) albedo, ice water content(IWC), daily frequency of occurrence, and mesopause temperature in NH and SH during 2007—2014, discussed NLCs location and annual variations, and explored the correlation between NLCs albedo, mesopause temperature, and IWC. The results show that NLCs in NH and SH mainly occur in the latitude range of 80°-85°, in which the duration of albedo in NH is longer, the annual fluctuation is smaller, and the content of IWC is higher and the daily frequency is more frequent compared to that in SH, whereas the albedo is always lower at the location of 90°W-150°W in SH. In addition, there are negative correlations between NLCs albedo and temperature, and temperature and IWC in both NH and SH, but albedo and IWC correlations do not show significant correlations. The findings of this study provide quantitative evidence supporting NLCs as sensitive indicators of mesospheric atmospheric changes. Furthermore, the observed hemispheric differences in NLCs characteristics contribute to improving climate models and offer valuable insights into understanding hemispheric asymmetries in long-term climate change responses.