Project Title

Continental-scale studies of Mesospheric dynamics using the Antarctic Gravity Wave Instrument Network (ANGWIN)

Summary

Event Number:
A-119-M/S
NSF/OPP Award 2029318

Program Manager:
Dr. Robert Moore

ASC POC/Implementer:
John Rand / Paul Sullivan / Sheryl Seagraves / Randolph Jones

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Michael Taylor
mike.taylor@usu.edu
Utah State University
Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences

Project Web Site:
http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/ail/

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station, South Pole Station
Research Locations: Arrival Heights, B2 Laboratory

Description

The Antarctic Gravity Wave Imaging Network (ANGWIN) is a cooperative effort between six international Antarctic programs to collect continent-wide gravity wave measurements. This network capitalizes on existing optical and radar measurement capabilities at McMurdo Station, South Pole Station, and six other research stations: Halley (UK), Syowa (Japan), Davis (Australia), Rothera (UK), and Ferraz (Brazil). Infrared, all-sky, mesospheric hydroxyl imagers are installed at Davis Station, McMurdo Station, and Halley Station. The network quantifies the properties, variability, and momentum fluxes of short-period mesospheric gravity waves and their dominant sources and effects over the Antarctic continent. Measurements at South Pole Station focus on quantifying the temperature signatures of gravity waves deep within the polar vortex and on complementing the ANGWIN sites around the continent.

Field Season Overview

The all-sky airglow imager and Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (AMTM) are operated at Arrival Heights since 2012 and 2017 respectively. Both instruments require maintenance and parts replacement. The operation of AMTM and all-sky imager at South Pole Station will continue for the next year to obtain much needed climatology on effects of gravity waves and their impact on the upper atmospheric over Antarctica. In addition, a new instrument (Rayleigh lidar) will be deployed during the next visit at the South Pole. This will require an extended stay with researchers from USU and colleagues from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Germany who will help installing and prepare the lidar for the following winter season. A cleaning of the AMTM dome and installation of a new glass dome on the all-sky imager will be performed to help better prevent dome’s frosting.

Deploying Team Members