In recent lidar runs we’ve seen an increase in the return photon counts from the metal layers in the atmosphere. This could be due to a number of factors but the most likely reason is geomagnetic storms. When solar winds are sustained at high speeds directed opposite to Earths magnetic field, the solar winds can… Read More

Our lidar systems operate at different wavelengths. They use a process called resonance fluorescence which requires very specific wavelengths so that the metal atoms absorb the light and electrons raise to a higher energy level (an “excited state”). When the electrons naturally fall back to their ground state, they release a new photon, and we… Read More

The weather can get dangerous in Antarctica very quickly. Lack of visibility and extreme cold can lead to serious injury. In order to prevent this, McMurdo has a system in place to stop people from venturing outside when the weather is dangerous. The weather conditions are classified as condition 3, condition 2, and condition 1.… Read More

Glory is a rare phenomenon. The visual effect is a circular rainbow around your shadow. In East Asia, the effect is known as “Buddha’s light”, which just goes to show how impressive this phenomenon really looks. While it may not look like much in the photos, I can confirm from experience that it is a… Read More

Anytime I’ve mentioned going to Antarctica, penguins become a topic of conversation within moments. Penguins are what everybody immediately associates with Antarctica (except for some people who ask about polar bears, which are only found in the North). I was excited to see them, but I wasn’t ready for how great it was. I’ve seen… Read More

During this past summer season at McMurdo we experienced numerous occasions of heavy fog. The fog would form over the ocean/sea ice and would creep up the slopes into town and even up to the laboratory. This type of fog was particularly frustrating for running our lidar systems since it was so hard to predict.… Read More

One of the most famous optical phenomena of the polar regions is the Aurora. In the Arctic it is known as the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, and in the Antarctic it is the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights. With the growing nighttime at McMurdo, we’ve been lucky enough to see some beautiful examples of… Read More

This is the fourth post in a series on optical phenomena in Antarctica. This post covers cloud iridescence, one of the most elegant and beautiful optical effects I’ve seen. Above: A golden cloud with iridescence, appearing as a rainbow streaking through the cloud. Photo taken from McMurdo town outside of building 155. Cloud iridescence is… Read More

Jess and I have many responsibilities as the winter over lidar team at McMurdo station. These responsibilities include maintenance of the lidar systems, data analysis, outreach, and, of course, the operation of the lidar systems. Anytime the skies are clear, we’re trying to gather data. But what does lidar operation actually look like? The first… Read More