AIP (Tas. Branch) Members' Talk Series - 1999
First Programme: 8PM, Friday 16th April
Physics Lecture Theatre 2, University of Tasmania (Sandy Bay Campus)
Overview: Two 30 minute talks, followed by coffee, tea and sandwiches. The talks are free to all interested students and members of the public. Non-members wishing to join the post-talk conviviality are invited to contribute one dollar.
by Dr Gary Burns
Abstract: The Year 2000 is not only the year of the Olympics, but also the year of a peak in Sunspot Activity. It will provide the best chance in 11 years of observing the aurora in Tasmania (...and Tasmania is the best location in Australia for observing the Aurora). The Aurora is a dramatic manifestation of the interaction of the Solar Wind and the Earth's Magnetic Field. This presentation covers: the colours in the Aurora (including video of the aurora), the global occurrence of Aurora (using images from satellites) and includes an attempt at a succinct explanation of the Aurora.
Speaker profile (Dr Gary Burns): Gary is a Principal Research Scientist with the Atmospheric and Space Physics group at Antarctic Division, Kingston. He spent 15 years studying the Aurora and its related effects on the Upper Atmosphere, before embracing Climate Change studies. He has participated in a number of Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions to the Antarctic and Macquarie Island (a long time ago!) to establish and operate research instruments.
(Studying the Antarctic Upper Atmosphere using a Lidar)
by Dr Andrew Klekociuk
Abstract: The Australian Antarctic Division and the University of Adelaide are undertaking an innovative and challenging project to investigate the long-term climate, structure and dynamics of the Antarctic atmosphere, from the ground to the edge of space. This work involves the development of a sophisticated lidar; an instrument which takes ‘soundings’ of the atmosphere using pulses of laser light. The lidar and its transportable observatory will be installed at Davis, Antarctica at the end of this year. This talk will provide an overview of the instrument and its scientific program, and describe some initial results from test observations at Kingston.
Speaker Profile (Dr Andrew Klekociuk): Andrew is a physics graduate of the University of Tasmania, having gained his BSc(Hons) degree in 1982 and his PhD in 1990. Since 1987, Andrew has worked as an atmospheric physicist at the Antarctic Division, where he is currently a Research Scientist with the Atmospheric and Space Physics group. In 1988, he wintered at Macquarie Island where he studied pulsating aurora and operated various physics experiments. Since 1994 Andrew has been Chief Investigator for the Australian Antarctic Lidar Facility.