MYSTERIOUS ICE CLOUDS CONFUSE SCIENTISTS

MYSTERIOUS ICE CLOUDS CONFUSE SCIENTISTS

BOULDER, Colo. (Wireless Flash) -- Mysterious ice clouds that have recently surfaced over parts of America are confounding scientists. The silvery-blue, luminous clouds are much higher than regular clouds and can be seen at night. The most recent sightings have been in Utah and Colorado -- much farther south than other sightings. Physicist Gary Thomas of the University of Colorado's Lab for Atmospheric and Space Physics admits no one is exactly sure what's causing the unusual clouds. Thomas says the clouds may be the result of high carbon dioxide levels cooling the upper atmosphere and freezing water vapor -- which could cause trouble for space flights and satellites. The frozen clouds are also a sign the atmosphere may be shrinking, which means present calculations used for spacecraft re-entry and satellite communications may be inaccurate.

CONTACT: Gary Thomas, ***1/2; Boulder, CO; (303) 492-7022