The metallic vapor layers

[calm_days]

Here is a catch -all topic for a unique and ubiquitous series of thin and dynamic atmospheric layers, the metallic vapor layers.
I thought there might already be a topic, but there was no sign of one.
I am still learning about this topic and you may be too.
Layers of shifting metallic elements that exist at mesospheric heights where planetary and gravity waves exist seem to be a significant contributing and modulating effect on weather, both its predictable patterns and anomalies.
Some of the vapor layers seem to be measured, and I am still looking for any websites that present the current data.

The metallic vapor layers explained:
http://www.albany.edu/faculty/rgk/atm101/sodium.htm

This topic is in the process of being completed.  I am sure there are more places with relevant discussion and hopefully data and graphs about the current state of...

what are essentially elemental clouds or elemental fog.
I am glad to finally know of these upper atmospheric weather phenomena and need to learn more.

[calm_days]

I have found the website of one of many researchers, John Plane!
He and his team detail some of the other layers/clouds that exist within what I've learned is called the mesosphere-lower troposphere (MLT).  I haven't yet found a diagram of where each one is in relation to the other, which would be very good to see, but, I will look or try to form a makeshift one out of sheer interest.

Ca / Ca+
http://www1.chem.leeds.ac.uk//JMCP/calcium.html

Mg
http://www1.chem.leeds.ac.uk//JMCP/magnesium.html

Si
http://www1.chem.leeds.ac.uk//JMCP/silicon.html

 

[calm_days]

I have found an article describing metallic vapor layers of the mesosphere/lower thermosphere and description of a unique data product called a reference atmosphere.

 

here is a very helpful summary:

 

The resulting picture illustrates the remarkable way in which the Na layer
responds sensitively to many different influences in the upper atmosphere: the flux of
interplanetary dust, photochemistry, temperature, the formation of ice clouds, and
atmospheric dynamics on a range of scales from gravity waves and tides to interhemispheric
circulation. Finally, it should be noted that each of the other metals for
which there are extensive observations - Fe, K and Ca - behave quite differently from
Na (Plane, 2003), providing further tools to probe this fascinating part of the
atmosphere.

 

 

There are many diagrams, and although the discipline-specific terminology is dense, it is very logical, as it is describing mid-atmospheric weather happening to large clouds of elements, ions, and molecules that exist there in place of water clouds.   

 

http://spaceweather.usu.edu/files/uploads/PDF/Na_Reference%20Atmosphere-revised.pdf

[calm_days]

A new satellite imaging capability is displaying how the mesosphere-lower thermosphere is affected by convection in lower atmospheric layers. 

It is interesting that this article and another even softer article do not mention the metallic vapor layers even though they are miles in thickness and are phenomena unique to the mesosphere and mesosphere-lower thermosphere; but that would be one layer too complicated for short articles.  It is very interesting when combined with/ put in the context of the information in this topic.

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/04/a-bullseye-in-the-sky-over-texas/360705/