Observations for the polar upper atmosphere research at Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI)

Abstract

KOPRI has been conducting a number of ground-based observations for the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region for almost a decade at Korean Arctic and Antarctic stations. In addition, we have been expanding the observation area into the ionosphere and thermosphere in southern polar region since the 2nd Korea Antarctic station, Jang Bogo Station (JBS) was established in Terra Nova Bay (74° 37´S, 164° 12´E), which is mostly located in the polar cap region, while the first Antarctic station, King Sejong Station (KSS), is located in the subauroral region. These stations allow us to systematically monitor the upper atmosphere including the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the ionosphere, by using various optical and radar instruments such as FTS, ASC, FPI, Meteor radar, digisonde, GPS etc.. In this presentation, we will briefly introduce our ground-based observations for the polar upper atmosphere at Korean Arctic and Antarctic stations in collaborations with several international partners as well as some preliminary results from the instruments recently installed in JBS.