On the best locations for ground-based polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) observations

Abstract. Spaceborne observations of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) with the Cloud-Aerosol LIdar Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) aboard Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite provide a comprehensive picture occurrence Arctic Antarctic PSCs as well their microphysical properties. However, advances in understanding PSC microphysics also require measurements ground-based instruments, which are often superior to CALIOP terms of, for example, time resolution, measured parameters, signal-to-noise ratio. This advantage is balanced by location dependence on tropospheric cloudiness. CALIPSO during boreal winters from December 2006 February 2018 austral 2012 2015 used assess effect cloudiness other measurement-inhibiting factors representativeness lidar Antarctic, respectively. Information Cloud Profile product (05kmCPro version 4.10) cloud mask 2, respectively, combined profile-by-profile basis identify conditions under likely perform useful analysis occurrence. It found that measurement together related can have profound impact derived statistics these findings rarely agreement polewide results observations. Considering current research infrastructure, it concluded most suitable sites expansion capabilities Summit Villum Mawson, Troll, Vostok Antarctic.