AIM Mission Overview, James M. Russell III 1

Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM)

James M. Russell IIIPrincipal InvestigatorHampton University

james.russell@hamptonu.edu757-728-6893

AIM Mission Overview, James M. Russell III 2

Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM)

Tom Eklund, July 28, 2001, Valkeakoski, Finland

Noctilucent Clouds Observed over Finland

AIM Mission Overview, James M. Russell III 3

NLCs are becoming more frequent and brighter

Freq

uenc

y

Time in years

Solar Minima

Anthropogenic Increase?

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A NLC is observed and photographed at 40o latitude for the first time!by AIM Co-Investigator Dr. Michael Taylor

A spectacular but unexpected event: June 22, 1999!

NLCs are being observed at lower latitudes

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Aim is addressing key questions about NLCs

Why do they form?

Why do they vary?

Why have they appeared at such low latitudes (~ 40oN) in 3 recent NH summers?

Is there a relationship to global change?

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SOFIE

Ice, H2O, T, Chemistry, dust

AIM carries three instruments: SOFIE

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6 min

CIPS

Ice images

AIM carries three instruments: SOFIE, CIPS

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6 min

o

ooo o

CDE

Cosmic Dust

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AIM carries three instruments: SOFIE, CIPS, CDE

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AIM launch is Fall 2006 on a Pegasus XL Rocket

600 km sun synchronous high noon orbit

Two year mission