MARA, the Moveable Atmospheric Radar for Antarctica, is used to study winds, turbulence and layering in the atmosphere. After two complete years of observations at Troll, the Norwegian research station, it was moved during January-February 2014 to the Indian research station, Maitri.

At Maitri, MARA will observe meteorology over flat terrain near the coast, while at Troll conditions were dominated by mountains. In the upper atmosphere, conditions during the declining phase of the solar cycle will be observed (previously minimum and increasing phases were covered).

At Troll we dismantled and packed 60 antennas with associated cabling and support structure, plus electronics and computers, ready for air transport to Novolazarevskaya Airbase. From Novo, we travelled by PistenBully to Maitri where we re-erected the antenna arrays, set up a new instrument cabin, delivered by ship and helicopter, and restarted radar operations.

MARA continues operation, watched over by Indian colleagues on site. Data is streamed in real-time via India and displayed on a web page. We have so far seen some similar and some quite different meteorology compared to Troll, with particularly strong wave structures affecting stable layers low in the atmosphere at Maitri.