Australia’s research into the Antarctic ozone hole and climate will be enhanced this summer with a new high-power laser.
The $270,000 laser will replace the current one which has been used in an atmospheric Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) instrument at Australia’s Davis station in Antarctica since 2001.
The LIDAR shoots a beam of laser light, 20 million times more powerful than a standard electric light bulb, into the atmosphere and measures subtle changes in the colour and intensity of the light when it is scattered by atmospheric gases and particles.
The measurements provide information on density, temperature, wind speed and aerosol particles from the surface to heights of 100 kilometres.
This information helps scientists understand process associated with atmospheric change, particularly those related to the ozone hole.
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