Project Title

Local-scale Drivers and Responses of Thermospheric Weather Above Antarctica

Summary

Event Number:
A-343-M/S
NSF / OPP Award 2029459

Program Director:
Dr. Marion Dierickx

ASC POC/Implementer:
Marissa Goerke / Randolph Jones / Sheryl Seagraves

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Mark Gerard Conde
mgconde@alaska.edu
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Physics Department
Fairbanks, Alaska

Project Web Site:
http://sdi_server.gi.alaska.edu/sdiweb/index.asp

Location

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

Description

This project operates and maintains ground-based Fabry-Perot spectrometers at McMurdo Station and South Pole Station. The instruments measure mesospheric and thermospheric neutral winds and temperatures at heights of around 87, 120, and 240 kilometers. Data collected informs both large-scale changes in mean flow and small-scale local perturbations, independently resolves impacts due to forcing from above and below, and contributes to studies utilizing data from other types of observing systems in Antarctica.

Field Season Overview

No on-site field work is to be performed by the science team in 2025-26. The instruments will continue to operate autonomously, year-round, via remote monitoring and control, aided by on-site support provided by Antarctic Support Contract staff and other station infrastructure (e.g., information technology network, station services) as needed.