A glow can be created by morning rocket launches.
A new study links increased rocket launches to noctilucent clouds high in Earth's atmosphere, which can cause rare cloud-forming events. Noctilucent, or "night-shining", is a description of blue and silver cloud streaks.
While the new research suggests that increased launches from private companies are boosting cloud appearances, how these rockets relate to other cloud-forming factors is not quantified in the study.
According to a NASA release, space traffic plays an important role in the formation and variation of clouds.
These NASA rocket launches are beautiful.
The troposphere is a layer of Earth's atmosphere sandwiched between our planet's surface and the ocean. The mesosphere is at a sky-high of 47 to 53 miles up. There are no other clouds high above Earth.
As the atmospheric layers closer to Earth warm up, this tends to cool the mesosphere. There are noctilucent clouds in the upper atmosphere due to water vapor moving into it.
According to the U.K. Met Office, the ingredients for noctilucent clouds are similar to others. The study of noctilucent clouds is complex because of the different conditions.
There is a boost in noctilucent clouds found between 56 and 60 degrees north latitude when there is a launch between 11PM and 10AM.
AIM's data is used to let scientists know how many noctilucent clouds are formed and how many are caused by human impacts. Scientists have found a correlation between launches and the shiny clouds.
The NASA statement said that previous studies showed that the space shuttle created noctilucent clouds near the poles. Space launches have increased since the shuttle program ended due to more commercial activity.
The study found that the morning winds are stronger in the north than in the south.
There was no correlation between the solar cycle and the appearance of noctilucent clouds.
Space traffic controls the variability of mid-latitude noctilucent clouds even after shuttles are stopped.
The study was published in Earth and Space Science on May 2, and NASA highlighted it in a statement on July 21.
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