Scholar Adrian McDonald Under Scrutiny for Alleged Breach of Student Data Privacy
Hangin' with the Prof: A Chill Chat with Dr. Adrian McDonald, Atmospheric Physics Boss
Dr. Adrian McDonald, a senior lecturer in the Physics and Astronomy Dept at University of Canterbury, is all about using radar and satellite instruments to gather data on Earth's atmosphere. Let's dive into his badass space adventures!
Satellite Spectacles
Ever wondered about those amazing devices up in the sky peeking down at our blue planet? Dr. McDonald spills the beans on some of the satellites he utilizes to measure temperature and Earth's atmospheric makeup.
As for the specific satellites he uses, NASA's Aura and Terra, ESA's Envisat and Sentinel series, and NOAA's fleet may be part of his spacey toolkit. But since we ain't caught up with the good doc yet, we'll have to keep guessing!
Born in Brum, Schooled in Science
This UK native earned his stripes with a BSc (Hons) in Physics and a PhD in Atmospheric Physics at the University of Wales Aberystwyth. Post-graduation, he held positions doc and otherwise in UK universities and the defense industry, focusing on space-age tech like lidar and synthetic aperture radar. Finally, he landed a gig at Alenia Marconi Systems as a systems engineer, working on missile radar.
Antarctica: Frozen Playground
Dr. McDonald joined the University of Canterbury in 2001 and dedicates his research to the Antarctic atmosphere, Antarctic climate, and the ozone hole. Each year, he travels to the frozen wilds for 2-3 weeks to set up weather stations and validate the satellite data. He predicts that the ozone hole could fully recover by 2050, but warns that the shrinking ozone layer might mess with the area's usually brutal winds.
Camping Out
This tough-as-nails scientist sets up camp in Antarctica with his University of Canterbury colleagues while they collect data to verify satellite info. He's a firm believer in the ozone hole's slow recovery but is concerned about the potential effect on Antarctica's chilly climate.
U Can Do It
Besides conducting mind-blowing research, Dr. McDonald also teaches undergrad and graduate courses in Physics and supervises grad students. He's part of the Deep South Challenge too!
Do keep in mind, the content is based on info from 2013 and last updated in 2018.
Useful Links
Learn more about Dr. McDonald and his work:
- University of Canterbury website
- Deep South Challenge
Sources: University of Canterbury, Deep South Challenge, and Hub Media
During his spacey adventures, Dr. Adrian McDonald utilizes advanced technology such as data-and-cloud-computing to analyze climate-change data gathered from satellites like NASA's Aura and Terra, ESA's Envisat and Sentinel series, and NOAA's fleet, thereby contributing to the field of environmental-science. His research in the Antarctic climate and the ozone hole is also aimed at predicting future changes and monitoring their impacts on the local environment.
