Automatic Geophysical Observatory (AGO)

An automatic geophysical observatory (AGO) is an apparatus that is specially designed to run scientific experiments throughout the year without human assistance, in remote, hostile Antarctic environments. Wind speeds in excess of 50 knots and outside tempratures below -60 C are not uncommon. AGOs comprise a purpose-built hut with lots of insulation, electrical heaters and heat storage devices (water bottles!). Power is provided by wind and solar power generators and can be used directly or to charge batteries for later use. For example, no power can be generated during windless periods in the 24-hour darkness of winter. The batteries may become exhausted if all the scientific instruments are left running. So, control electronics selectively stop scientific instrumentation to economise on power until an orderly re-start can take place when power becomes available again.

At each AGO there is a fluxgate magnetometer, riometer, Imaging Riometer, VLF instrument, HF receiver, search coil magnetometer, a met station with two temperature sensors, a pressure sensor, wind speed, wind direction instuments and a GPS.
Each AGO has a number which refers to its lattitude for example A77 is at 77 degrees South

A84 - (Knott) is an automatic geophysical observatory (AGO) site. Installed in January 1998, it is located at almost 2100m on the polar plateau about 970km south of Halley. Here, the wind blows a constant 10 to 15m/s from the north-east most of the year, and the temperatures range from -10° to -60° Celcius.

A81 - (High Sierra) is an automatic geophysical observatory (AGO) site. Installed in January 1996, it is located at almost 8000 feet about 900km south east of Halley. Here, the wind blows a constant 10 to 15m/s most of the year, and the temperatures range from -15° to -65° Celcius.

A80 - (Recovery) is an automatic geophysical observatory (AGO) site. Installed in January 1995, it is located on the Recovery Glacier about 590km south of Halley. Here, gales are frequent with gusts of up to 30m/s recorded, and the temperatures range from -10° to -55° Celcius.

A77 - (Mile High) is an automatic geophysical observatory (AGO) site. Installed in January 1992, it is located about 220km south east of Halley. Here, gales are frequent with gusts of up to 35m/s recorded, and the temperatures range from -10° to -55° Celcius.