Professor Gu Shengyang from Wuhan University poses for a photo in front of the Arctic Yellow River Station.

Professor Gu Shengyang from Wuhan University led a team of scientists to the Arctic Yellow River Station in October as part of the China 2025 Arctic Scientific Expedition to install and calibrate a cutting-edge Fabry–Perot Interferometer (FPI).

The state-of-the-art FPI device enables fully automated measurements of airglow emissions at 557.7 and 630.0 nanometers. It facilitates passive optical detection of wind fields and temperatures in the upper atmosphere through interferometric imaging.

This data is crucial for studying energy coupling in the upper polar atmosphere and enhancing space weather forecasting capabilities.

The FPI is the only domestically produced device of its kind operating in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions, laying the groundwork for continuous, autonomous monitoring of the polar space environment.

The environment surrounding the Arctic Yellow River Station.

Located at 78°55′N, 11°56′E in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, the station provides an ideal setting for monitoring the upper atmosphere and space environment due to its remote location and minimal light pollution.

Gu's team has made significant advancements in optical system design and automated data acquisition and inversion, resulting in a stable observation system with complete independent intellectual property rights.

FPI devices have already been deployed in Shenzhen, Wuhan, and Beijing, with this installation in the Arctic further strengthening China's observational network across various latitudes, providing vital data to support theoretical research, modeling, and forecasting of the upper atmosphere.

The starry sky and aurora above the Arctic Yellow River Station.