Integrated circuit - close-up

Antarctic weather stations are built to withstand 250 km/h winds and temperatures as low as -80°C (-90°C in the case of the Dome A weather station). The stations send wind direction, wind speed, humidity, solar radiation and air temperature back to Australia each day by satellite.

Weather stations have a microcomputer inside them which "talks" to all the instruments when it needs data to send to the satellite. When it is not busy the microcomputer puts the weather station to sleep. This saves the batteries which are recharged by solar panels so the weather stations can continue to operate in the dark winter months.

This circuit is typical of those used in weather stations.

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