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As a result of the scarcity of isotopic reference waters for daily use, a new secondary isotopic reference material for international distribution has been prepared from ice-core water from the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. This isotopic reference material, designated as USGS49, was filtered, homogenised, loaded into glass ampoules, sealed with a torch, autoclaved to eliminate biological activity and measured by dual-inlet isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. The δ2H and δ18O values of USGS49 are −394.7 ± 0.4 and −50.55 ± 0.04 mUr (where mUr = 0.001 = ‰), respectively, relative to VSMOW, on scales normalised such that the δ2H and δ18O values of SLAP reference water are, respectively, −428 and −55.5 mUr. Each uncertainty is an estimated expanded uncertainty ( U = 2 uc) about the reference value that provides an interval that has about a 95% probability of encompassing the true value. This isotopic reference material is intended as one of two isotopic reference waters for daily normalisation of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic analysis of water with an isotope-ratio mass spectrometer or a laser absorption spectrometer. It is available by the case of 144 glass ampoules or as a set of sixteen glass ampoules containing 5 ml of water in each ampoule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The South Pole Telescope (SPT) is a 10–m mm/sub-mm telescope at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. It''s primary science goals consist of a galaxy cluster survey for understanding Dark Energy and probing the physics of Inflation through the CMB polarization. Both science goals require exceptional sensitivity necessitating focal planes with many optical elements. The focal planes of the SPT utilize Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometers to build arrays of nearly 1000 detectors. In this talk, I will present the TES bolometer technology for both the first SPT focal plane and its upcoming upgrade to a polarization sensitive array. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Fifty-four years of Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station meteorological data have been analyzed to develop a comprehensive climatology from the station''s meteorological observations. In reaching the goal of a full climatological analysis, a meteorological station history was required and a full quality control review of the data was conducted. Analysis of the general fifty-year climate is presented for temperature, pressure, wind speed and wind direction along with averages (means), extremes and records, daily ranges, trends and discontinuities. Additional investigations include how often the temperature reaches −100°F and changes in the flying season as seen via acceptable temperatures. The analysis found slight decreases in the temperature and pressure over the 1957–2010 time period that are not statistically significant. The wind speed, however, does show a significant downward trend of 0.28ms−1 decade−1 over the same period. The seasonal time series of temperature and pressure illustrate how longer term oscillations are superimposed on shorter-term fluctuations. The seasonal mean wind speed over the 54year period shows a consistent pattern of decreasing speed for all seasons. In contrast to the mean wind speeds, the maximum wind speeds are increasing for the summer and transition seasons, and the increases are statistically significant. Finally, for the period 1983–2010, the average annual snow accumulation is decreasing at a statistically significant downward rate of −2.9mmyear−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The impact of acute altitude exposure on pulmonary function is variable. A large inter-individual variability in the changes in forced expiratory flows (FEFs) is reported with acute exposure to altitude, which is suggested to represent an interaction between several factors influencing bronchial tone such as changes in gas density, catecholamine stimulation, and mild interstitial edema. This study examined the association between FEF variability, acute mountain sickness (AMS) and various blood markers affecting bronchial tone (endothelin-1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), catecholamines, angiotensin II) in 102 individuals rapidly transported to the South Pole (2835 m). The mean FEF between 25 and 75% (FEF(25-75)) and blood markers were recorded at sea level and after the second night at altitude. AMS was assessed using Lake Louise questionnaires. FEF(25-75) increased by an average of 12% with changes ranging from -26 to +59% from sea level to altitude. On the second day, AMS incidence was 36% and was higher in individuals with increases in FEF(25-75) (41 vs. 22%, P = 0.05). Ascent to altitude induced an increase in endothelin-1 levels, with greater levels observed in individuals with decreased FEF(25-75). Epinephrine levels increased with ascent to altitude and the response was six times larger in individuals with decreased FEF(25-75). Greater levels of endothelin-1 in individuals with decreased FEF(25-75) suggest a response consistent with pulmonary hypertension and/or mild interstitial edema, while epinephrine may be upregulated in these individuals to clear lung fluid through stimulation of β(2)-adrenergic receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Current dayside optical studies of Aurora Australis from the Amundsen-Scott Research Station at the South Pole (74 degrees magnetic latitude) show some striking differences from optical results reported from Svalbard. A 6-channel meridian scanning photometer operating during the past three austral winters shows, in particular, the 630nm emission is much lower, on average, than the Arctic dayside aurora and very weak on some days. The 558nm intensity is higher relative to 630nm suggesting the incoming electrons have a higher average energy. There are notable differences in auroral forms, giving further evidence of asymmetries in the two dayside ovals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the death of Australian astrophysicist Rodney Marks at the U.S. Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and how years after his death questions remain as to how it occurred. Topics include an overview of Marks' last days alive, the environmental conditions the day of his death, and the discovery by forensic pathologist Martin Sage of Marks' cause of death, which was methanol poisoning. Also discussed is how the information obtained via Marks' autopsy affected his colleagues, a brief biography of his life, and the questions it raised as to how he may have accidentally drank methanol. Factors that may have contributed to Marks' death and investigators' inability to provide answers include the quality of care he received and the isolation of the locale, respectively.

Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS) forecasts of atmospheric moisture and cloud fraction (CF) are compared with observations at McMurdo and Amundsen–Scott South Pole station (hereafter, South Pole station) in Antarctica. Overall, it is found that the model produces excessive moisture at both sites in the mid- to upper troposphere because of a weaker vertical decrease of moisture in AMPS than observed. Correlations with observations suggest AMPS does a reasonable job of capturing the low-level moisture variability at McMurdo and the upper-level moisture variability at South Pole station. The model underpredicts the cloud cover at both locations, but changes to the AMPS empirical CF algorithm remove this negative bias by more than doubling the weight given to the cloud ice path. A “pseudosatellite” product based on the microphysical quantities of cloud ice and cloud liquid water within AMPS is preliminarily evaluated against Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) imagery during summer to examine the broader performance of cloud variability in AMPS. These comparisons reveal that the model predicts high-level cloud cover and movement with fidelity, which explains the good agreement between the modified CF algorithm and the observed CF. However, this product also demonstrates deficiencies in capturing low-level cloudiness over cold ice surfaces primarily related to insufficient supercooled liquid water produced by the microphysics scheme, which also reduces the CF correlation with observations. The results suggest that AMPS predicts the overall CF amount and high cloud variability notably well, making it a reliable tool for longer-term climate studies of these fields in Antarctica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the discovery of high-energy neutrinos, which traveled beyond the solar system, using the IceCube observatory, a neutrino telescope developed at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica. Neutrino theorist John Beacom mentions the capabilities of the neutrinos in unveiling how the universe looks like. However, he cites the need to continue in monitoring the activities of the universe while building a portrait of the particle accelerators in the universe.

This article discusses the need for upgrades and repairs at the three Antarctic scientific facilities of the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP). Topics include a 2011 report by the U.S. National Academies' National Research Council panel on improvements to the McMurdo, Amundsen, and Palmer U.S. research stations, the necessity of either building an American icebreaker ship or securing longer-term international contracts, and a recommendation for the reduction of Antarctic-related contractor labor.

The article offers various information related to medicine. It discusses the struggle of emergency doctor Jerri Nielsen, who performed her own medical diagnosis and surgery on a lump in her breast while at work in Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Meanwhile, it notes the emergence of a non-invasive post-mortem radiology from a collaborative approach to non-invasive autopsy. It relates the psychological inclination of divorce in the incidence of Alzheimer's disease and long-term mental health.

The article reports on the discovery of three new galaxy clusters by using a microwave telescope located at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica. It states that U.S. astronomers have discovered three galaxy clusters by using a microwave survey technique that could rival existing ways of searching for dark energy. Researcher John Ruhl, a collaborator from Case Western Reserve University, notes that they were looking at how many clusters there are as a function of time which this search has led them back to the dark energy.