Central Idea
- Residents in the Arctic have witnessed an extraordinary atmospheric display of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs).
Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs)
| Details | |
| Formation and Location | Form in the polar stratosphere at altitudes of 15,000–25,000 meters; common over Antarctica and the Arctic. |
| Temperature Conditions | Require extremely cold temperatures, typically below −78°C (−108°F). |
| Types | Type I: Composed of water and nitric acid.
Type II: Made almost entirely of water ice. |
| Role in Ozone Depletion | Facilitate chemical reactions that produce chlorine and bromine compounds, leading to ozone destruction. |
| Appearance | Iridescent, shimmering pastel colors, leading to their nickname “nacreous” or “mother-of-pearl” clouds. |
| Observation | Visible during twilight, illuminated from below by the Sun. |
| Research and Monitoring | Studied for impact on ozone depletion and climate change; monitored via satellites and ground stations. |
| Environmental Concern | Linked to human-made chemicals like CFCs; subject to international regulation like the Montreal Protocol. |
| Climate Change Connection | Research ongoing into how climate change might affect PSCs’ frequency and distribution. |
| Discovery and Study History | Observed since the 19th century; their role in ozone depletion understood in the 1980s. |
