Davis Atmospheric Observatory

Long-term continuous measurements of the Antarctic atmosphere are important for understanding the Antarctic environment and its interactions with other parts of the Earth-system. The Davis Atmospheric Observatory project combines our ability to measure the state of the atmosphere above Davis research station from the surface to the edge of space with an existing data archive. It allows us to explore the workings of the Antarctic atmosphere from minute to minute or season to season. It also enables studies of long-term changes. These investigations will be used to underpin the development of deeper understandings of our weather and climate, to monitor, detect and quantify change at all levels of the atmosphere, and to provide comparison data for atmosphere models and other observations from the ground and space. Measurements from the Davis Atmospheric Observatory will contribute to global observing networks and international science efforts.

Improvements to our ability to make measurements of the Antarctic atmosphere increase the impact of our observations by ensuring their continuation and enhancing their quality. Recent significant improvements to our capabilities are being operationalised: a new spectrometer is able to collect the light needed for an upper level temperature determination in a fraction of the time of the existing instrument and is now producing spectra; improvements to one of our wind radars that will provide new information on radar echoes and protect us from this risks posed by obsolete components are being debugged; and the addition of new capabilities in sampling potential seed particles for ice clouds will enhance our knowledge of cloud-formation processes.

Long-term continuous measurements of the Antarctic atmosphere are important for understanding the Antarctic environment and its interactions with other parts of the Earth-system. The Davis Atmospheric Observatory project combines our ability to measure the state of the atmosphere above Davis research station from the surface to the edge of space with an existing data archive. It allows us to explore the workings of the Antarctic atmosphere from minute to minute or season to season. It also enables studies of long-term changes. These investigations will be used to underpin the development of deeper understandings of our weather and climate, to monitor, detect and quantify change at all levels of the atmosphere, and to provide comparison data for atmosphere models and other observations from the ground and space. Measurements from the Davis Atmospheric Observatory will contribute to global observing networks and international science efforts.

Improvements to our ability to make measurements of the Antarctic atmosphere increase the impact of our observations by ensuring their continuation and enhancing their quality. Over the last year we have made some significant improvements to our capabilities: a new spectrometer is able to collect the light needed for an upper level temperature determination in a fraction of the time of the existing instrument; improvements to one of our wind radars will provide new information on radar echoes and protect us from this risks posed by obsolete components; and the addition of new capabilities in sampling potential seed particles for ice clouds will enhance our knowledge of cloud-formation processes.

Long-term continuous measurements of the Antarctic atmosphere are important for understanding the Antarctic environment and its interactions with other parts of the Earth-system. The Davis Atmospheric Observatory project combines our ability to measure the state of the atmosphere above Davis research station from the surface to the edge of space with an existing data archive. It allows us to explore the workings of the Antarctic atmosphere from minute to minute or season to season. It also enables studies of long-term changes. These investigations will be used to underpin the development of deeper understandings of our weather and climate, to monitor, detect and quantify change at all levels of the atmosphere, and to provide comparison data for atmosphere models and other observations from the ground and space. Measurements from the Davis Atmospheric Observatory will contribute to global observing networks and international science efforts.