Winds and temperatures in the upper atmosphere above and between Mawson and Davis

Data products of analysed data show wind speeds and directions and temperatures in the upper atmosphere above, around and between Mawson and Davis Stations in Antarctica. Data are collected from approximately the heights at which green and red aurora occur.

Raw data are recorded photographically with very sensitive CCD cameras as sets of interference fringes formed in Fabry-Perot Interferometers by light from airglow or aurora. Light from other sources like the moon and stars are filtered out. From very small changes in the interference patterns Doppler shifts in the wavelength of the light are inferred. Wind speeds and directions, and temperatures are calculated from the Doppler shifts. For more information go to http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/environment/atmosphere/studying-the-atmosphere/studying-the-thermosphere-with-fabry-perot-spectrometers

These data products were produced as part of AAS project 4130 - they are the first installment in the "Neutral winds and temperatures in the thermosphere above Antarctica" data product set.