Overview

The Antarctic atmosphere can teach us much about the global climate system and the near-space environment.

The atmosphere above Antarctica is unique. The air is like the rest of Earth's atmosphere. But above Antarctica, things happen that do not happen anywhere else. These range from beautiful aurora that dance across the night sky to ozone holes that threaten the life beneath them. So it is not surprising that research into the antarctic atmosphere is of global importance.

The variety that the atmosphere encompasses allows us to split it into a number of layers. The middle atmosphere is the term that describes the region above the highest clouds but below the region that is electrically charged. The upper atmosphere lies above this, includes air that is violently ionised by the sun and is the doorstep of space. Cosmic rays particles, part of the fabric of space, constantly bombard the top of our atmosphere. And cutting through all this are the earth's southern geographic and magnetic poles. The result is a strange and enlightening place.

The activities of the Space and Atmospheric Sciences group, in the Australian Antarctic Division, make use of the unique opportunities our Antarctic stations offer and allow us to improve our understanding of the atmosphere and the near-space environment.

Metadata for Space and Atmospheric Sciences are held at the Australian Antarctic Data Centre.

More information, use the contact form for Space and Atmopsheric Sciences.