Unwin Radar
The Unwin Radar is named after New Zealand scientist Dr Bob Unwin, who first proposed the concept behind the project in the 1960's. Bursts of short-wave radio pulses are transmitted from the radar in a southern arc that includes the South Magnetic Pole. The ensuing reflections from micro-meteorites, the ionosphere, ocean and aurora are detected at the station and resolved there. The data from Unwin is transmitted back to La Trobe University where it is made available over the Internet to users. Unwin Station and its counterpart at Bruny Island in Tasmania form the Tasman International Geopspace Enviroment Radar (TIGER).
The station is very significant from a global perspective as it completes a worldwide network of radars focussed on auroral zones, called SuperDARN. Southland is regarded as an ideal location for such a facility because of the southerly aspect, low radio noise and unobstructed horizon.
As well as being a very significant national and international research project, building and maintaining Unwin utilised local skills in the construction, technical work and ongoing maintenance.
The project and associated research provides the following major benefits:
- Greater understanding of atmospheric weather to assist with terrestrial weather prediction.
- Prediction of telecommunication interference and provide a better understanding of the effects of atmospheric magnetic fields on power grid management.
- The project will attract the world’s leading international researchers to Southland as well as associated conference opportunities.
The Unwin Radar Project also provides an opportunity for local and national students to participate in world class research.
The availability of broadband services positively impacted on the decision to establish this facility in our region, as it is necessary to undertake twenty-four hours per day, real time monitoring of the station.
Can you see Aurora Australis?
... it all depends. Southland (including Stewart Island) and Tasmania are the only places in the world that are easily accessible with a fair chance of seeing Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) under propitious conditions. This is because the South Magnetic Pole is somewhat north of the South Geographic Pole, in the direction of Australia. This has the effect of increasing Invercargill's magnetic latitude from 46°S to 54°S.
You need two things to see an aurora: a clear night sky - preferably around midnight - and a recently stormy sun. A bit of luck helps. The two maps below show you where the auroral oval is now and where you can see it from (the second map). Both maps correctly display current conditions at the time you opened this page.
And is it possible to predict solar storms? Observers can detect solar storms on the Sun optically, so they can see one within eight minutes of it forming (the Sun is 8 light-minutes away). The solar wind that the storm produces only travels at 300 km/second - 500 km/second and so it takes two, or three days to get here and cause auroras to form. So, once an event is seen on the Sun, we get a few days warning. No-one can yet forecast a solar event.
Aurora Australis right now
