South Pole Observatory - NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory

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class="dropdown-item" href="/gmac/">GMAC Conference</a> </div> </li> </ul> <div id="search" class="d-lg-none"> <form action="https://search.usa.gov/search"> <div class="form-group mb-1"> <input type="hidden" name="affiliate" value="noaa_esrl_gmd"> <input type="hidden" name="v:project" value="firstgov" > <div class="input-group mb-1"> <input type="text" name="query" id="query-field2" autocomplete="off" class='form-control input-xs' placeholder="Search GML..."> <div class="input-group-append"> <button type="submit" id='searchbutton' class="btn btn-secondary btn-sm"><i class="fa fa-search"></i><span class='sr-only'>Search</span></button> </div> <label for="query-field2" class="sr-only"> Search GML:</label> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div id="main" role="main"> <div class="container-md"> <h1 class="pageheader">South Pole Observatory</h1> <img src="/main_img/south_pole_station.jpg" class="banner-img3 mb-4" alt="south pole station"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-7"> <p> The South Pole Observatory (SPO) is located at the geographic South Pole on the Antarctic plateau at an elevation of 2837 m above sea level. The South Pole Observatory was established at the geographical South Pole in 1957 as part of the International Geophysical Year. The National Science Foundation provides the infrastructure for the GML scientific operations including a state of the art science building named the <a href="observatory.html">Atmospheric Research Observatory (ARO)</a> and the Balloon Inflation Facility (BIF). Two GML observatory staff members spend one year tours of duty at the station which includes a 9 month period of isolation and six months of darkness. </p> <p> The ARO facility is approximately 500-m grid east-northeast of the new elevated station. This location is generally separated and upwind from station operations. The grid system is used at South Pole Station to define Cartesian coordinates. Grid north (0°/360°) is defined as the line representing the prime meridian or zero line of longitude and is called “north.” The 180° line from South Pole is referred to as “south.” A Clean Air Sector (CAS) was established and is defined as the area beyond the ARO facility from grid 340° to grid 110°. The prevailing winds at the South Pole are from CAS more than 90% of the time. </p> <p> CAS was established to preserve the unique atmospheric and terrestrial conditions from South Pole Station influences. Except for special circumstances, access to the CAS is prohibited. This includes foot and vehicle traffic. Aircraft activity is limited in CAS, and guidelines for scientific or other activities are under discussion at this time. The pristine nature of CAS is strictly preserved, not just for the current scientific activities, but also for future science at South Pole. </p> </div> <div class="col-md-5"> <div class="row no-gutters"> <div class="col-lg-3 col-6 text-center"> <a class="btn-gml-icon" href="/dv/site/index.php?stacode=spo"> <span class="fa-stack fa-2x mt-2"> <i class="fas fa-circle fa-stack-2x"></i> <i class="fas fa-globe fa-stack-1x fa-inverse"></i> </span> <div class="icon-label">Site Info</div></a> </div> <div class="col-lg-3 col-6 text-center"> <a class="btn-gml-icon" href="/dv/data/?site=spo"> <span class="fa-stack fa-2x mt-2"> <i class="fas fa-circle fa-stack-2x"></i> <i class="fas fa-database fa-stack-1x fa-inverse"></i> </span> <div class="icon-label">Datasets</div></a> </div> <div class="col-lg-3 col-6 text-center"> <a class="btn-gml-icon" href="/dv/iadv/?code=spo"> <span class="fa-stack fa-2x mt-2"> <i class="fas fa-circle fa-stack-2x"></i> <i class="fas fa-chart-line fa-stack-1x fa-inverse"></i> </span> <div class="icon-label">Data Viewer</div></a> </div> <div class="col-lg-3 col-6 text-center" style="padding: 0;"> <a class="btn btn-gml-icon" href="/bin/news.php?code=spo"> <span class="fa-stack fa-2x"> <i class="fas fa-circle fa-stack-2x"></i> <i class="fas fa-newspaper fa-stack-1x fa-inverse"></i> </span> <div class="icon-label">News</div></a> </div> </div> <div class="list-group list-group-flush list-group-condensed mb-3 mt-4 text-right"> <a class="list-group-item list-group-item-condensed list-group-item-action" href="/dv/spo_oz/">South Pole Ozone Hole</a> <a class="list-group-item list-group-item-condensed list-group-item-action" href="south_pole_personnel.html">South Pole Personnel</a> <a class="list-group-item list-group-item-condensed list-group-item-action" href="observatory.html">Atmospheric Research Observatory (ARO)</a> <a class="list-group-item list-group-item-condensed list-group-item-action" href="/publications/search2.php?abstract=South+Pole">South Pole Publications</a> <a class="list-group-item list-group-item-condensed list-group-item-action" href='/obop/spo/gallery/'>Photo Gallery</a> <a class="list-group-item list-group-item-condensed list-group-item-action" href='movies.php'>Time Lapse Movies</a> </div> </div> </div> <hr> <div class='text-center mt-4 mb-4'> <a class='btn btn-lg btn-primary mb-2 mr-3' href="met.html"><span class='fas fa-cloud-sun-rain'></span> Current Weather</a> <a class='btn btn-lg btn-primary mb-2 mr-3' href="livecamera.html"><span class='fas fa-camera'></span> Live Camera</a> </div> </div> <div class="readingbox mt-3"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8"> <h2 class="orange">Location</h2> <ul class="arrowlist size14"> <li>Country: United States <img src='/images/flags/smallflags/ANTA0001.GIF' alt='Country Flag' style='margin-left: 6px;' width=32></li> <li>Latitude: 90.00° South</li> <li>Longitude: 59° East </li> <li>Elevation: 2840 masl </li> <li>Time Zone: Local Time + -12 hour(s) = UTC</li> </ul> <h2 class="orange">Contact</h2> <ul class="arrowlist size14"> <li>Contact Name: <a href='mailto:NOAA@usap.gov'>NOAA</a></li> <li>Address: NOAA/ESRL Project O-257-S<br> South Pole Station<br>PSC 768 Box 400<br> APO AP, 96598</li> <li>Phone: (303) 497-6655</li> <li>Fax: (303) 497-5590</li> </ul> <h2 class="orange">Cooperating Agencies</h2> <ul class="arrowlist size14"> <li><img src='/webdata/logos/nsf_vsmall.png' style='float:left; margin-right: 10px;' alt='NSF'> National Science Foundation</li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-md-4"> <img class="img-fluid" src='/dv/site/maps/SPO.png' alt='' style="margin:40px auto 0;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> </div>  </div>  <footer class="footer" role="contentinfo"> <div class="footer-secondary_section"> <div class="container-md"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8"> <div class="media"> <img class="footer-logo mr-3 d-none d-sm-block" src="/webdata/logos/noaa-emblem.webp" alt="NOAA logo with wording" width=74 height=74> <div class="media-body"> <p> <a class="footer-logo-heading mt-0" href="/">Global Monitoring Laboratory</a> <br> » <a href="https://www.commerce.gov/">U.S. Department of Commerce</a> <br> » <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration</a> <br> » <a href="https://research.noaa.gov/">NOAA Research</a> </p> </div> </div> <div class='mt-2'> <p> <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/protecting-your-privacy">Privacy Policy</a>  |   <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/accessibility">Accessibility</a>  |   <a href="/about/disclaimer.html">Disclaimer</a>  |   <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/disclaimer">Disclaimer for External Links</a>  |   <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/information-technology/foia">FOIA</a>  |   <a href="https://www.usa.gov">Usa.gov</a> </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-4 footer-right-section"> <p> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NOAAResearch" title="NOAA Research Facebook" aria-label="NOAA Research Facebook"> <i class="fab fa-facebook-f fa-1x social"></i></a> <a href="https://instagram.com/noaaresearch" title="NOAA Research Instagram" aria-label="NOAA Research Instagram"> <i class="fab fa-instagram fa-1x social"></i></a> <br> <a href="/sitemap/">Site Contents</a><br> <a href="/about/contacts.html">Contact Us</a>  |  <a href="mailto:webmaster.gml@noaa.gov">Webmaster</a><br> <a href="/survey/">Take Our Survey</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script async="" type="text/javascript" id="_fed_an_ua_tag" src="https://dap.digitalgov.gov/Universal-Federated-Analytics-Min.js?agency=DOC&subagency=NOAA"></script> <script async src="https://siteimproveanalytics.com/js/siteanalyze_6294131.js"></script> </body> </html>

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South Pole Observatory - NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory