Arrival Heights

An area at Arrival Heights was originally protected because its geographical characteristics, such as its elevated position and broad viewing horizon, as well as the volcanic crater morphology, made it useful as a “quiet” (lacking electromagnetic interference) site for atmospheric studies.

[2][3] This was to coincide with other Antarctic atmospheric research activities as part of the 1957 IGY programme including the establishment of a full geomagnetic observatory, vertical incident ionosonde station and AZA transmitter at Scott Base.

Over the next 10–15 years a variety of additional DSIR equipment was added, including an auroral camera along with American scientific investigations.

Coincidentally, also in 1982 the first stratospheric trace gas remote sensing uv/vis grating spectrometer was installed by DSIR, New Zealand to measure nitrogen dioxide abundance in the polar atmosphere.

In 1988 DSIR started a research programme to obtain in situ flask samples for greenhouse gas and carbon isotope analysis.

Map displaying the Arrival Heights ASPA boundary, sourced from Reference 1.
Auroral radar installed at Arrival Heights, circa 1959
S. G. Clarke at the controls of a photometer as part of a survey to assess sky brightness and light pollution at Arrival Heights, 1974