Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 09/25/2007 - 08:34
Forums
Antarctic Weather Stations

Which maufacturer's AWS are mainly used?


I'm wondering which manufacturers AWS are used in such harsh condition. How are they maintained?

 

biligt AT gmail.com

Wed, 09/26/2007 - 17:51

Kirk Beckendorf

  When I am in Antarctica in Dec./Jan. we will be maintaining some of the stations and I will be able to give you a description of what all we do. as far as the manufacturers, during my quick visit to Madison I was given the overview of this but I doubled checked with Shelley Knuth at UW-MAdison to make sure you get an accurate explanation, this is her reply...
"Well it really depends on the station.  All of the stations back in the day (such as Byrd) were built by George.  The stations now are from Campbell Scientific, with some modifications made by us.  However, not all the instruments are from Campbell Scientific.  They vary from place to place and through the 27 years of the project, but generally, the aerovanes are Belfort or RM Youngs, the temperature sensors are either from Campbell or ours, the pressure sensors are Paroscientific, and the relative humidity sensors are Vaisalas.
We maintain all the AWS.  We buy the parts from the manufacturer, modify them to our own needs, and then maintain them as necessary."
Thanks for the questions.
Kirk