Project Title

Pan-Antarctic investigations of mesospheric wave dynamics and influences using the ANGWIN Network

Summary

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

Program Director:
Dr. Vladimir Papitashvili

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

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Michael John 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 of 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 international research stations: Halley (UK), Syowa (Japan), Davis (Australia), Rothera (UK), and Ferraz (Brazil). The network quantifies the properties, variability, and momentum fluxes of short-period (less than one hour) mesospheric gravity waves and their dominant sources and effects over the Antarctic continent.

The instrumentation at McMurdo Station consists of an Infrared (IR) all-sky mesospheric OH (hydroxyl) imager and an Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (AMTM). Instrumentation at South Pole Station includes an all-sky airglow imager, an AMTM and a Rayleigh lidar. 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. These measurements substantially contribute to much-needed climatology on effects of gravity waves and their impact on the upper atmosphere over Antarctica.

Field Season Overview

On-site fieldwork this year will focus on repairing damages incurred to equipment installed at South Pole Station due to a fire event. In addition, results from the current winter season will dictate what new equipment maintenance, parts replacements, and updates may be required and can be addressed within time and bed-space limitations. Otherwise, the instruments will continue to operate autonomously, year-round, via remote monitoring and control, aided by on-site support provided by ASC staff and other station infrastructure (IT network, station services, etc.) as needed.

Deploying Team Members