Snodar:2009 performance at Dome A, Antarctica

• Published in: SPIE Proceedings, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III
• Main Authors: Bonner, Colin S., Ashley, Michael C B, Bradley, Stuart G., Cui, Xiangqun, Feng, LongLong, Gong, Xuefei, Lawrence, Jon S., Luong-Van, Daniel M., Shang, Zhaohui, Storey, John W V, Wang, Lifan, Yang, Huigen, Yang, Ji, Zhou, Xu, Zhu, Zhenxi
• Other Authors: Stepp, Larry M., Gilmozzi, Roberto, Hall, Helen J.
• Format: Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SPIE 2010
• Subjects: /dk/atira/pure/mqoutputs/26; E1 - Refereed Conference Publication - paper published in full; Antarctic; Plato; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/77755094-309a-4b3e-9884-b6341dffc8f9; https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856659; https://research-management.mq.edu.au/ws/files/62430891/Publisher%20version%20(open%20access).pdf; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77958115248&partnerID=8YFLogxK

Snodar is a high resolution acoustic radar designed specifically for profiling the atmospheric boundary layer on the high Antarctic plateau. Snodar profiles the atmospheric temperature structure function constant to a vertical resolution of 1 m or better with a minimum sample height of 8 m. The maximum sampling height is dependent on atmospheric conditions but is typically at least 100 m. Snodar uses a unique in-situ intensity calibration method that allows the instrument to be autonomously recalibrated throughout the year. The instrument is initially intensity calibrated against tower-mounted differential microthermal sensors. A calibration sphere is located in the near-field of the antenna to provide a fixed echo of known intensity, allowing the instrument to be continuously re-calibrated once deployed. This allows snow accumulation, transducer wear and system changes due to temperature to be monitored. Year-round power and communications are provided by the PLATO facility. This allows processed data to be downloaded every 6 hours while raw data is stored on-site for collection the following summer. Over 4 million processed samples have been downloaded through PLATO to date. We present signal attenuation from accumulation of snow and ice on Snodar's parabolic reflector during the 2009 at Dome A.