Instrumentation
GARS Instrumentation
The most important science instrument at the GARS O’Higgins station is a 9-metre reflector antenna especially constructed to withstand the extreme environmental conditions at O’Higgins. The antenna is primarily used to acquire data collected by earth observation satellites, but also to command satellites. Another important field of operations is its use as a radio telescope for geodetic and astrometric measurements.
Other important science instruments at the station are reference receivers for the satellite navigation systems GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO. Other instruments are used to measure sea level heights. The station has both a pressure gauge and a radar gauge, the latter making it possible to receive absolute, GPS-referenced sea level data. In recent years absolute gravimetric measurements have also been repeatedly made.
Two independent weather stations continuously record meteorological measurements for temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, wind direction and wind velocity.
