Station Information: AGOS
Automatic Geophysical Observatory (AGO)

An automatic geophysical observatory (AGO) is an apparatus that is specially designed to run scientific experiments throughout the year without human assistance, in remote, hostile Antarctic environments. Wind speeds in excess of 50 knots and outside tempratures below -60 C are not uncommon.

AGOs comprise a purpose-built hut with lots of insulation, electrical heaters and heat storage devices (water bottles!). Power is provided by wind and solar power generators and can be used directly or to charge batteries for later use. For example, no power can be generated during windless periods in the 24-hour darkness of winter. The batteries may become exhausted if all the scientific instruments are left running. So, control electronics selectively stop scientific instrumentation to economise on power until an orderly re-start can take place when power becomes available again.


AGO Map
Data access

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