New initiatives in observing the antarctic mesosphere

Studies of the Antarctic mesosphere, and its contrasts with the Arctic, are expected to hold the key to improved understanding of the mesopause region and energy and momentum transfer processes linking the mesosphere to the atmosphere below and the magnetosphere above. It is with this objective that a number of new initiatives are being undertaken at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) research stations at Halley (76°S, 27°W) and Rothera (68°S, 68°W), both through new uses of existing instrumentation and through collaborative programmes with other groups. A brief review of recent developments and their scientific rationale is presented.