Reply to Comment on 'Nucleation of mesospheric cloud particles: Sensitivities and limits'

Abstract

The nucleation process of noctilucent clouds (NLCs) is not yet understood in detail. Furthermore, there seems to be disagreement on how the number density of MSPs (NMSP) influences the observable properties of NLCs, even when considering the same theoretical framework of classical nucleation theory. The question how the observable NLC properties depend on NMSP was first studied systematically by M11 where she concluded that "the observable quantities of NLCs, such as ice mass and cloud brightness, are much lesssensitive to the concentration of CN [condensation nuclei] than what previously has been believed". In our study (WRK16) we came to the conclusion that there is a "clear relationship between initial MSP number density or nucleation conditions, in general, and the observed NLC properties". In a comment on WRK16, M19 argues that the differences are smaller than they first appear.