The paper investigates the sensitivity of meteoric smoke distribution to various microphysical properties and atmospheric conditions. Meteoric smoke particles, formed from the ablation of meteoroids in the Earth's atmosphere, are believed to play a crucial role in middle atmosphere phenomena such as noctilucent clouds and polar mesospheric summer echoes. The study uses a one-dimensional microphysical model to explore how uncertainties and variability in factors such as meteoric input amount, ablation height, coagulation efficiency, particle density and shape, background atmospheric conditions, and vertical wind affect the properties and distribution of these particles. Key findings include: 1. **Coagulation Efficiency**: The efficiency of coagulation has the most significant impact on the smoke distribution, particularly on the number density of particles larger than 1 nm, which are thought to serve as condensation nuclei for noctilucent clouds. 2. **Vertical Wind**: Variations in vertical wind profiles, driven by seasonal changes in mesospheric residual circulation, strongly influence the distribution of particles larger than 1 nm. Summer winds reduce the number of potential ice nuclei at the summer mesopause, while winter winds enhance the particle distribution. 3. **Other Factors**: The amount of meteoric material, ablation height, particle density and shape, and background atmospheric conditions also affect the smoke distribution, but to a lesser extent compared to coagulation efficiency and vertical wind. 4. **Non-linear Effects**: The combined effects of multiple factors can be significantly larger than their individual impacts, highlighting the importance of considering the interactions between these factors. 5. **Measurement Requirements**: To constrain the unknown parameters, simultaneous measurements of particle properties and background conditions are essential. This includes number densities, size distributions, charged particle ratios, and particle composition. 6. **Model Coupling**: Future research should involve coupling a microphysical model of smoke formation with a 2- or 3-dimensional circulation model to better understand spatial and temporal variations in the smoke distribution. The study underscores the critical role of meteoric smoke in middle atmospheric phenomena and the need for more comprehensive measurements and modeling to improve our understanding of these processes.The paper investigates the sensitivity of meteoric smoke distribution to various microphysical properties and atmospheric conditions. Meteoric smoke particles, formed from the ablation of meteoroids in the Earth's atmosphere, are believed to play a crucial role in middle atmosphere phenomena such as noctilucent clouds and polar mesospheric summer echoes. The study uses a one-dimensional microphysical model to explore how uncertainties and variability in factors such as meteoric input amount, ablation height, coagulation efficiency, particle density and shape, background atmospheric conditions, and vertical wind affect the properties and distribution of these particles. Key findings include: 1. **Coagulation Efficiency**: The efficiency of coagulation has the most significant impact on the smoke distribution, particularly on the number density of particles larger than 1 nm, which are thought to serve as condensation nuclei for noctilucent clouds. 2. **Vertical Wind**: Variations in vertical wind profiles, driven by seasonal changes in mesospheric residual circulation, strongly influence the distribution of particles larger than 1 nm. Summer winds reduce the number of potential ice nuclei at the summer mesopause, while winter winds enhance the particle distribution. 3. **Other Factors**: The amount of meteoric material, ablation height, particle density and shape, and background atmospheric conditions also affect the smoke distribution, but to a lesser extent compared to coagulation efficiency and vertical wind. 4. **Non-linear Effects**: The combined effects of multiple factors can be significantly larger than their individual impacts, highlighting the importance of considering the interactions between these factors. 5. **Measurement Requirements**: To constrain the unknown parameters, simultaneous measurements of particle properties and background conditions are essential. This includes number densities, size distributions, charged particle ratios, and particle composition. 6. **Model Coupling**: Future research should involve coupling a microphysical model of smoke formation with a 2- or 3-dimensional circulation model to better understand spatial and temporal variations in the smoke distribution. The study underscores the critical role of meteoric smoke in middle atmospheric phenomena and the need for more comprehensive measurements and modeling to improve our understanding of these processes.