On the role of dust in the summer mesopause

摘要: Abstract We propose that dust formed at the cool summer mesopause may have optical properties very different from measured for bulk material of ice. The smallness and possible surface impurities lead to high photoelectric yields low workfunctions. For such reasons in may, least occasionally, be charged substantial positive potentials while pure ice, with its workfunction, would negative by collisions plasma particles. presence ‘dressed’ particles, some volts, can enhanced radar backscatter. also suggest apparent reductions electron density (‘bite-out’), which been observed backscatter region, caused inability an electrostatic probe deflect massive is required our model explain bite-outs order 10 cm −3 radius above 5 × −6 cm.