Ukrainian polar explorers show white nights in Antarctica
Ukrainian polar explorers show white nights in Antarctica (facebook.com/AntarcticCenter)
Ukrainian polar researchers at the Akademik Vernadsky station showcased the white nights in Antarctica. Experts say that the daylight there lasts for 19 hours and 32 minutes, and its duration is increasing, according to the National Antarctic Scientific Center.
Longest day at the station
Polar researchers report that the sun rose at the station today at 03:18 and will set at 22:50. The longest day at Vernadsky will be on December 21. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the day of the summer solstice, lasting 22 hours, 24 minutes, and 42 seconds. Instead of a night, there will be twilight for just 1.5 hours.
"Since our station is located north of the Polar Circle, the phenomenon of the polar day - a period when the sun does not set for over a day - is not observed here. For comparison, at the South Pole, the duration of the polar day is a whopping 184 days," the statement says.
Therefore, polar researchers have to curtain the windows at night, and they celebrate the New Year in broad daylight. But after the Antarctic winter, the sun and vibrant daytime landscapes certainly improve the mood.
The long daylight also adds to the workload for meteorologists, especially when the sky is clear. Then, using a special instrument - the aerosol solar photometer Microtops - scientists measure the concentration of aerosols in the atmosphere every hour.
Thanks to these measurements, researchers determine how the quantity of suspended particles in the atmosphere changes throughout the day, week, and month. This is important because seemingly small aerosols play a significant role in shaping weather and climate.
Based on such measurements, climate models are created not only for polar regions but for the entire Earth.
What is the "hot season" in summer
During good weather in the summer, it's also the "hot season" for ozone researchers. When the sky is clear, ozone measurements need to be taken extensively. Scientists practically don't leave the ozone office located in the attic.
Ozonists conduct special Umker measurements, allowing them to build a vertical profile of ozone distribution in the atmosphere.
"Sunny weather and long days bring polar researchers not only joy but also a significant amount of work. But scientists admit that it's always a joy," the polar researchers add.
Ukrainian polar explorers show white nights in Antarctica (facebook.com/AntarcticCenter)
