Dr Andrew Klekociuk: BSc(Hons) PhD
Research interests
I grew up in Tasmania, and studied at the University of Tasmania, where I gained a PhD in physics in 1991. My research thesis in radioastronomy was entitled ‘Timing Observations of the Vela Pulsar PSR0833-45'. In 1987, prior to completing my PhD, I joined the Australian Antarctic Division as a research physicist, and have remained in full time employment with the Division ever since. In 1988 I wintered at Macquarie Island, where I maintained the Upper Atmospheric Physics observatory and collected data for a research project on pulsating aurorae. Following this I was involved with three field campaigns to study pulsating aurorae and auroral energetics, which involved stints at Mawson (1990–91), Macquarie Island (1991–92) and Kotezbue, Alaska (1992).
From 1994 to 2014 I led a collaboration between the Antarctic Division and the University of Adelaide that developed and established a sophisticated LIDAR (light detection and ranging) facility at Davis station in Antarctica for the study of atmospheric processes and climate. From 2001 to 2012, the Davis LIDAR measured atmospheric density, temperature and aerosol characteristics from 5 to 95 km altitude. The instrument is currently being re-tasked for new studies of cloud and aerosol processes that are expected to start in 2018. My research with this instrument centred on interpretation of the measurements in the context of describing basic atmospheric processes and their relationship with global climate. This work also involved five summer expeditions to Davis.
During my work with the Davis LIDAR, I helped to establish a long-term program of in-situ ozone measurements at Davis using ozonesondes. These measurements are an important part of Australia’s research contribution to protecting the ozone layer. Out of this work I helped to develop the chemistry-climate modelling capability of the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESSS), and this has led to Australia’s participation in the Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative (CCMI), which is an inter-comparison of leading-edge climate models.