MST radar for Australian Antarctic Division

July 2002
Atrad has won a contract to supply a Mesospheric Stratospheric Tropospheric (MST) radar to the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) to be installed at Davis Base in Antarctica. The radar is to be used for research experiments to aid the understanding of the role of Antarctica in the global climate system.

The transmitter uses the same 100kW tube transmitter technology used by other ATRAD supplied research organisations. Initial implementation will be at a reduced 20kW capability but with a later upgrade. The antenna array comprises a total of 144 Yagi type antennas covering an effective ground area of some 445 sq m. Special consideration has been given to operating in the hostile environment of Antartica where minimum temperatures at Davis Base can reach as low as -40 deg in winter time.