First Satellite Observations of Meteoric Smoke in the Middle Atmosphere

This work describes the first remote observations of meteoric smoke particles (MSPs) from satellite, by the Solar Occultation For Ice Experiment (SOFIE) onboard the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) platform. The measurements show a layer of MSPs from roughly 35 to 85 km altitude, and indicate a seasonal cycle with reduced MSP abundance during polar summer. The measurements agree favorably with model results, and confirm that MSP transport by the global meridional circulation causes the dramatic reduction in MSPs during polar summer. These new observations represent a major advance in our ability to understand a hitherto poorly characterized class of particles that are thought to be important in numerous atmospheric and terrestrial processes.