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