Meet the PCAPS SG: Reflections from PCAPS SG member, Paola Rodriguez Imazio, after her recent Antarctica field campaign
This month’s Meet the SG blog post features PCAPS SG member, Paola Rodriguez Imazio, who is a researcher at the National Weather Service in Argentina. Paola is a physicist and her research is centred on turbulent mixing and dynamics in the Antarctic atmosphere. Paola brings knowledge about Antarctic atmospheric dynamics and related research activities in the Antarctic Peninsula to PCAPS. She is also the lead of one of WWRP-PCAPS’ endorsed projects: the Turbulence in Supercool Clouds in Antarctica (T-SCAN) project.
Paola on her way to prepare equipment for late night measurements on a sunny day during the recent T-SCAN campaign in Antarctica. Photo courtesy of Paola Rodriguez Imazio.
As a physicist, my current research focuses on using in-situ measurements to investigate turbulent exchange and mixing across different layers of the Antarctic atmosphere. However, my background is rooted in computational fluid dynamics, particularly in the design and application of numerical models for turbulent flows in both geophysical and astrophysical contexts.
Working as a scientist for the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina, working at the National Weather Service (SMN), my research has taken a more applied direction, aiming to enhance predictability, forecasting capabilities, and meteorological services for Antarctic operations. I am particularly interested in bridging fundamental atmospheric research with practical applications that can improve decision-making in extreme environments.
I am happy to report that the T-SCAN project, funded by SMN-Argentina, IAA-Argentina and ISP-Italy, has started. After two landing attempts, exasperated by rapidly changing weather conditions, Hercules finally arrived into Marambio on 12 January 2025, bringing the T-SCAN team to Antarctica.
Our technical operator, Gonzalo Gambarte (left), fighting extreme weather conditions while launching during 25 knots wind gusts of 25 knots. On the other hand, our head of forecasts, Alejandro Godoy (right), launching under perfectly calm weather conditions. Photo credit: Agustina Zapiola.
To date, 30 balloon-borne measurements with super liquid water content (SLWC) probes were launched during clear sky, cloudy sky and fully overcast conditions. Meanwhile, the atmospheric environment is monitored using remote ground sensing devices such as a ceilometer, a radiometer and an open sky camera located on the roof of the Scientific Laboratory of Marambio.
Remote sensing devices on the roof of the Scientific Laboratory of Marambio. Photo credit: Alejandro Godoy.
The SLWC sensors are based on a wire-vibrating technology. Measurements during extreme wind conditions, which are typical during the austral summer in the Antarctic Peninsula, may therefore lead to noisy or missed data!
To account for these rapidly changing conditions, our forecast team has daily briefings. Numerical prediction models, satellite images and our specialized Antarctic forecasting expertise allow us to provide 24-hour forecasts, assisted by our remote sensing team, via the open sky camera.
T-SCAN researchers and forecast team during one of the daily forecast briefings. Photo credit: Agustina Zapiola.
The work conducted during T-SCAN will help to significantly improve our understanding of cloud processes in the Antarctic region. Moreover, measurements during T-SCAN will also enable us to study Antarctic Atmospheric Rivers (ARRs), which are corridors of anomalous heat, rainfall, and foehn effects.
Recent temperature records between 2015 and 2020 indicate that AARs contributed to the alarming series of extreme warm events over this region, showing stronger warming compared to the rest of Antarctica (for more information see: Gorodetskaya et al. 2023).
I am incredibly excited to lead the T-SCAN project! As a member of the PCAPS Steering Group, I firmly believe that T-SCAN will not only contribute to fundamental knowledge about the atmospheric conditions of one of the most remote and challenging regions on Earth but also play a crucial role in improving weather forecasts, operational products, and meteorological services in polar regions. The insights gained from this campaign will help advance our understanding of polar meteorology and contribute to the broader scientific and operational community.