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    Lidar Exploration at the Bottom of the World

    at the Bottom of the World

    Author: jalschuler

    Penguins and Sled Races

    Jess describes her birthday activities in Antarctica!… Read More


    First Week on the Ice!

    2025-2026 Winter-Over Lead Jess Alschuler details her first week after arriving at McMurdo Station, Antarctica!… Read More


    Recent Posts

    • Penguin Sightings
    • Heavy Fog During Summer
    • Optical Phenomena in Antarctica: Aurora Australis
    • A Year in Lidar
    • Optical Phenomena in Antarctica: Cloud Iridescence

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    Historic Lidar Postcards

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    Research in Antarctica

    group photo

    CIRES Fellow Dr. Xinzhao Chu’s research group has been using sophisticated, custom lidar systems to study the upper atmosphere at McMurdo Station, Antarctica since 2010. Typically, students are deployed to the ice for 13 months at a time to operate the systems and study the region where the atmosphere meets space. Students thus do something most scientists don’t do: spend wintertime at the bottom of the world—braving temperatures down to -60 F, and periods of total darkness. The team uses their advanced equipment to make new discoveries about clouds, the atmosphere—and beyond (out to space). A lot of work goes into running such a long observational campaign in a remote location like McMurdo, but the scientific discoveries and unique environment make it all worth it.

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