Atmospheric and Space Sciences: Atmosphere

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polar stratospheric cloud

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | | Copyright

polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) A cloud, consisting of ice crystals, which occurs in the stratosphere late in winter over Antarctica and, less commonly, over the Arctic. The water vapour that freezes may be derived from the dissociation of methane and the cloud forms in the very still, very cold air of a vortex over the pole (the less common occurrence of such clouds in the northern hemisphere is owing to the generally higher temperature of Arctic stratospheric air and the briefer duration of the vortex). The reactions that deplete polar stratospheric ozone in the late winter and early spring take place on the surface of the ice crystals in polar stratospheric clouds.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "polar stratospheric cloud." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "polar stratospheric cloud." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-polarstratosphericcloud.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "polar stratospheric cloud." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-polarstratosphericcloud.html

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polar stratospheric cloud

A Dictionary of Ecology | 2004 | | Copyright

polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) A cloud, consisting of ice crystals, which occurs in the stratosphere late in winter over Antarctica and, less commonly, over the Arctic. The water vapour that freezes may be derived from the dissociation of methane and the cloud forms in the very still, very cold air of a vortex over the pole (the less common occurrence of such clouds in the northern hemisphere is owing to the generally higher temperature of Arctic stratospheric air and the briefer duration of the vortex). The reactions that deplete polar stratospheric ozone in the late winter and early spring take place on the surface of the ice crystals in polar stratospheric clouds.

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Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "polar stratospheric cloud." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "polar stratospheric cloud." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-polarstratosphericcloud.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "polar stratospheric cloud." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-polarstratosphericcloud.html

Learn more about citation styles

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