I am Science Leader of the Atmosphere, Ice and Climate  team and an atmospheric physicist. I work within the Climate Processes group (part of AIC). I have worked at BAS since 2006 and my main area of research is the study of atmospheric gravity waves and tides as a dynamical vertical coupling mechanism in the polar regions.  I am also interested in climate change in the polar regions and space weather effects on middle atmosphere circulation.

Current Activities:

I am the lead investigator for the NERC large grant MesoS2D (with colleagues from Bath and Leeds Universities). This project will combine instrument observations and model results to examine variability in the middle atmosphere with an aim to provide a pathway to improved predictability in the middle atmosphere.

I am Co-Investigator on the following projects:

DRIIVE: A NERC funded project which is looking at multi-scale coupling in the ionosphere and how it is influenced both by space weather and the lower atmosphere.

ExtAnt: A NERC funded project (starting early 2024) that will provide the first comprehensive assessment of present day and future high impact extreme weather events in Antarctica, and associated risks.

Previous projects I’ve been involved in recently:

DRAGON-WEX grant (led by colleagues at Bath University) which investigated the role of gravity waves around 60S in driving atmospheric circulation in this region.

SG-WEX (led by colleagues at Bath University) which investigated gravity waves being generated from the small mountainous island of South Georgia.

Committee roles:

I am on the science committee for the ANtarctic Gravity Wave Instrument Network (ANGWIN) which is a SCAR action group looking to study gravity waves across Antarctica using international collaborations.

Antarctic Instrumentation:

I am joint PI for the following instruments:

An all-sky infrared airglow imager located at Rothera (with Prof. Taylor of Utah State University).

An all-sky infrared airglow imager located at Halley (with Dr Corwin Wright of Bath University)

2 airglow spectrometers (Rothera and Halley)

A multi filter airglow imager system at Rothera.

SKiYMET meteor radars located at Rothera and Halley ( Halley radar being deployed 2024/25 season)

I also use radiosonde data, gathered routinely by our meteorologists, to study gravity wave activity in the lower stratosphere.

Career:

2022 – current: Science Leader AIC

2020-2021: Interim Science Leader AIC

2018 – 2020: Deputy Science Leader of AIC

2014 – current:  Senior scientist (gravity wave physicist)

2006-2014:  Higher scientist (gravity wave physicist)

2001-2005:  PhD at University College London: Development and validation of the UCL Martian thermosphere-ionosphere general circulation model

1997-2001:  MPhys Physics degree at Warwick University

Research interests

Dynamical coupling in the middle atmosphere with a focus on gravity waves and atmospheric tides.

Climate change in the Polar Regions.

Space weather effects on the dynamics of the middle atmosphere.

Moffat-Griffin, T., A. D. Aylward, W. Nicholson (2007), Thermal structure and dynamics of the Martian upper atmosphere at solar minimum from global circulation model simulations, Annales Geophys., 25, 2147-2158

M. Lopez-Valverde, F. Gonzalez-Galindo, F. Lefevre, S. Lebonnois, T. Moffat, A. D Aylward, and S. Bougher, Inter-comparison of UV radiation models in the Upper Atmosphere of Mars, Conference proceedings, International Mars Atmosphere Workshop, Granada, January 2003

T. Moffat, Developing and Validating the UCL Martian Thermosphere/Ionosphere Global Circulation Model,  PhD Thesis, University of London, March 2005

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

2025

Mandal, Subir ORCID record for Mandal, Subir. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Wright, Corwin J. Pautet, Pierre-Dominique. Taylor, Mike J. Nakamura, Takuji. (2025) ​​Gravity Wave Variability in the Arctic Mesosphere in Relation with the Stratospheric Polar Vortex​.

Karanam, Ramesh ORCID record for Karanam, Ramesh. Mitchell, Nicholas J. Hindley, Neil P. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. (2025) ​​Long-term Variability and Tendencies of the Semidiurnal Tide in Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere from Meteor Radar Observations Over Esrange (67.9°N, 21.1°E).

Gauthier, Arthur. Borries, Claudia ORCID record for Borries, Claudia. Kozlovsky, Alexander ORCID record for Kozlovsky, Alexander. Janches, Diego. Brown, Peter. Vida, Denis. Jacobi, Christoph ORCID record for Jacobi, Christoph. Murphy, Damian ORCID record for Murphy, Damian. Tsutsumi, Masaki ORCID record for Tsutsumi, Masaki. Gulbrandsen, Njål. Nozawa, Satonori ORCID record for Nozawa, Satonori. Lester, Mark. Kero, Johan ORCID record for Kero, Johan. Mitchell, Nicholas. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Stober, Gunter ORCID record for Stober, Gunter. (2025) TIMED Doppler Interferometer measurements of neutral winds at the mesosphere and lower thermosphere and comparison to meteor radar winds.

2024

Noble, Phoebe E. Rhode, Sebastian. Hindley, Neil P. Berthelemy, Peter. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Preusse, Peter. Hoffmann, Lars. Wright, Corwin J. (2024) Exploring Sources of Gravity Waves in the Southern Winter Stratosphere Using 3-D Satellite Observations and Backward Ray-Tracing.

Dawkins, E.C.M. Janches, D. Stober, G. Carrillo‐Sánchez, J.D. Lieberman, R.S. Jacobi, C. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Mitchell, N.J. Cobbett, N. Batista, P. P. Andrioli, V. F. Buriti, R. A. Murphy, D. J. Kero, J. Gulbrandsen, N. Tsutsumi, M. Kozlovsky, A. Lester, M. Kim, J.‐H. Lee, C. Liu, A. Fuller, B. O’Connor, D. Palo, S. E. Taylor, M. J. Marino, J. Rainville, N. (2024) Seasonal and Local Time Variation in the Observed Peak of the Meteor Altitude Distributions by Meteor Radars.

Stober, Gunter. Vadas, Sharon L. Becker, Erich. Liu, Alan. Kozlovsky, Alexander. Janches, Diego. Qiao, Zishun. Krochin, Witali. Shi, Guochun. Yi, Wen. Zeng, Jie. Brown, Peter. Vida, Denis. Hindley, Neil. Jacobi, Christoph. Murphy, Damian. Buriti, Ricardo. Andrioli, Vania. Batista, Paulo. Marino, John. Palo, Scott. Thorsen, Denise. Tsutsumi, Masaki. Gulbrandsen, Njål. Nozawa, Satonori. Lester, Mark. Baumgarten, Kathrin. Kero, Johan. Belova, Evgenia. Mitchell, Nicholas. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Li, Na. (2024) Gravity waves generated by the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and their global propagation in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere observed by meteor radars and modeled with the High-Altitude general Mechanistic Circulation Model.

Narayanan, V.L. Wright, C. Mlynczak, M. Hindley, N. Kavanagh, A. ORCID record for Kavanagh, A.. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Noble, P. (2024) Observations of mesospheric gravity waves generated by geomagnetic activity.

Ramesh, K. ORCID record for Ramesh, K.. Mitchell, Nicholas J. Hindley, Neil P. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. (2024) Long‐Term Variability and Tendencies in Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Winds From Meteor Radar Observations Over Esrange (67.9°N, 21.1°E).

Noble, Phoebe E. Hindley, Neil P. Wright, Corwin J. Cullens, Chihoko. England, Scott. Pedatella, Nicholas. Mitchell, Nicholas J. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. (2024) Interannual Variability of Winds in the Antarctic Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Over Rothera (67°S, 68°W) During 2005–2021 in Meteor Radar Observations and WACCM‐X.

2023

Taylor, Michael. Bossert, Katrina. Collins, Rich. Cullens, Chihoko. Merkel, Aimee. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Pautet, Pierre-Dominique. Preusse, Peter. Stober, Gunter. Thiemann, Ed. Thurairajah, Brentha. Yuan, Titus. Zhao, Yucheng. (2023) Measurements of gravity wave global distributions and trends in the ITM.

Dawkins, E.C.M. Stober, G. Janches, D. Carrillo‐Sánchez, J.D. Lieberman, R.S. Jacobi, C. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Mitchell, N.J. Cobbett, N. Batista, P.P. Andrioli, V.F. Buriti, R.A. Murphy, D.J. Kero, J. Gulbrandsen, N. Tsutsumi, M. Kozlovsky, A. Kim, J.H. Lee, C. Lester, M. (2023) Solar Cycle and Long‐Term Trends in the Observed Peak of the Meteor Altitude Distributions by Meteor Radars.

2022

Dempsey, Shaun M. Noble, Phoebe E. Wright, Corwin J. Mitchell, Nicholas J. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. (2022) Interannual variability of the 12-hour tide in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere in 15 years of meteor-radar observations over Rothera (68° S, 68° W).

Mitra, G. Guharay, A. Batista, P.P. Buriti, R.A. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. (2022) Investigation on the MLT tidal variability during September 2019 minor sudden stratospheric warming.

Liu, Guiping. Janches, Diego. Ma, Jun. Lieberman, Ruth S. Stober, Gunter. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Mitchell, Nicholas J. Kim, Jeong‐Han. Lee, Changsup. Murphy, Damian J. (2022) Mesosphere and lower thermosphere winds and tidal variations during the 2019 Antarctic Sudden Stratospheric Warming.

2021

Hindley, Neil P. Cobbett, Neil. Fritts, David C. Janchez, Diego. Mitchell, Nicholas J. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Smith, Anne K. Wright, Corwin J. (2021) Radar observations of winds, waves and tides in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere over South Georgia island (54° S, 36° W) and comparison with WACCM simulations.

Griffith, M.J. Dempsey, S.M. Jackson, D.R. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Mitchell, N.J. (2021) Winds and tides of the Extended Unified Model in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere validated with meteor radar observations.

Wang, J.C. Palo, S.E. Forbes, J.M. Marino, J. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Mitchell, N.J. (2021) Unusual quasi 10‐day planetary wave activity and the ionospheric response during the 2019 Southern Hemisphere sudden stratospheric warming.

Iimura, H. Fritts, D.C. Lieberman, R.S. Janches, D. Mitchell, N.J. Franke, S.J. Singer, W. Hocking, W.K. Taylor, M.J. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. (2021) Climatology of quasi-2-day wave structure and variability at middle latitudes in the northern and southern hemispheres..

Hindley, N.P. Wright, C.J. Gadian, A.M. Hoffmann, L. Hughes, J.K. Jackson, D.R. King, J.C. ORCID record for King, J.C.. Mitchell, N.J. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Moss, A.C. Vosper, S.B. Ross, A.N. (2021) Stratospheric gravity waves over the mountainous island of South Georgia: testing a high-resolution dynamical model with 3-D satellite observations and radiosondes..

Liu, Guiping. Janches, Diego. Lieberman, Ruth S. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Mitchell, Nicholas J. ORCID record for Mitchell, Nicholas J.. Kim, Jeong‐Han. Lee, Changsup. (2021) Wind variations in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere near 60°S latitude during the 2019 Antarctic sudden stratospheric warming.

Stober, G. Janches, D. Matthias, V. Fritts, D. Marino, J. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Baumgarten, K. Lee, W. Murphy, D. Ha Kim, Y. Mitchell, N. ORCID record for Mitchell, N.. Palo, S. (2021) Seasonal evolution of winds, atmospheric tides, and Reynolds stress components in the Southern Hemisphere mesosphere-lower thermosphere in 2019.

2020

Dempsey, Shaun M. Hindley, Neil P. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Wright, Corwin J. Smith, Anne K. Du, Jian. Mitchell, Nicholas J. ORCID record for Mitchell, Nicholas J.. (2020) Winds and tides of the Antarctic mesosphere and lower thermosphere: One year of meteor-radar observations over Rothera (68°S, 68°W) and comparisons with WACCM and eCMAM.

Hindley, N.P. Wright, C.J. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Mitchell, N.J. ORCID record for Mitchell, N.J.. (2020) An 18‐year climatology of directional stratospheric gravity wave momentum flux from 3‐D satellite observations.

Orr, Andrew ORCID record for Orr, Andrew. Hosking, J. Scott ORCID record for Hosking, J. Scott. Delon, Aymeric. Hoffman, Lars. Spang, Reinhold. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Keeble, James. Abraham, Nathan Luke. Braesicke, Peter. (2020) Polar stratospheric clouds initiated by mountain waves in a global chemistry-climate model: A missing piece in fully modelling polar stratospheric ozone depletion.

Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Colwell, S.R. Wright, C.J. Hindley, N.P. Mitchell, N.J. (2020) Radiosonde observations of a wintertime meridional convergence of gravity waves around 60°S in the lower stratosphere.

Liu, Guiping. Janches, Diego. Lieberman, Ruth S. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Fritts, David C. Mitchell, Nicholas J. (2020) Coordinated Observations of 8‐ and 6‐hr Tides in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere by Three Meteor Radars Near 60°S Latitude.

2019

Hindley, Neil P. Wright, Corwin J. Smith, Nathan D. Hoffman, Lars. Holt, Laura A. Alexander, M. Joan. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Mitchell, Nicholas J. (2019) Gravity waves in the winter stratosphere over the Southern Ocean: high-resolution satellite observations and 3-D spectral analysis.

Zhao, Yucheng. Taylor, M.J. Pautet, P.-D. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Hervig, M.E. Murphy, D.J. French, W.J.R. Liu, H.L. Pendleton, W.R. Russell III, J.M. (2019) Investigating an unusually large 28-day oscillation in mesospheric temperature over Antarctica using ground-based and satellite measurements.

Martinis, C. Baumbardner, J. Mendillo, M. Taylor, M. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Wroten, J. Sullivan, C. Macinnis, R. Alford, B. Nishimura, Y. (2019) First ground-based conjugate observations of Stable Auroral Red (SAR) Arcs.

Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. (2019) An introduction to atmospheric gravity wave science in the polar regions and first results from ANGWIN..

Macotela, Edith L. Clilverd, Mark ORCID record for Clilverd, Mark. Manninen, Jyrki. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Newnham, David A. ORCID record for Newnham, David A.. Raita, Tero. Rodger, Craig J. (2019) D-region high latitude forcing factors.

2017

Jackson, D.R. Gadian, A. Hindley, N.P. Hoffmann, L. Hughes, J. King, J. ORCID record for King, J.. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Moss, A.C. Ross, A.N. Vosper, S.B. Wright, C.J. Mitchell, N.J. (2017) The South Georgia Wave Experiment (SG-WEX) – a means for improved analysis of gravity waves and low-level wind impacts generated from mountainous islands.

Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Wright, Corwin. Moss, Andrew. King, John ORCID record for King, John. Colwell, Steve. Hughes, John. Mitchell, Nicholas. (2017) The South Georgia Wave Experiment (SG-WEX): Radiosonde observations of gravity waves in the lower stratosphere. Part 1: Energy density, momentum flux and wave propagation direction.

Matsuda, Takashi S. Nakamura, Takuji. Ejiri, Mitsumu K. Tsutsumi, Masaki. Tomikawa, Yoshihiro. Taylor, Michael J. Zhao, Yucheng. Pautet, P.-Dominique. Murphy, Damian J. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. (2017) Characteristics of mesospheric gravity waves over Antarctica observed by Antarctic Gravity Wave Instrument Network imagers using 3-D spectral analyses.

Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Colwell, S.R. (2017) The characteristics of the lower stratospheric gravity wave field above Halley (75°S, 26°W), Antarctica, from radiosonde observations.

Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Taylor, Mike J. Nakamura, Takuji. Kavanagh, Andrew J. ORCID record for Kavanagh, Andrew J.. Hosking, J. Scott ORCID record for Hosking, J. Scott. Orr, Andrew ORCID record for Orr, Andrew. (2017) 3rd ANtarctic Gravity Wave Instrument Network (ANGWIN) science workshop.

2016

Newnham, D.A. ORCID record for Newnham, D.A.. Ford, G.P. Moffat-Griffin, T.A. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.A.. Pumphrey, H.C. (2016) Simulation study for measurement of horizontal wind profiles in the polar stratosphere and mesosphere using ground-based observations of ozone and carbon monoxide lines in the 230–250 GHz region.

2013

Snively, J. B. Nielsen, K. Hickey, M. P. Heale, C. J. Taylor, M. J. Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. (2013) Numerical and statistical evidence for long-range ducted gravity wave propagation over Halley, Antarctica.

Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Lester, Mark. Freeman, Mervyn ORCID record for Freeman, Mervyn. (2013) From atmosphere to space: a new scientific frontier.

2012

Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Jarvis, M.J. Colwell, S.R. Kavanagh, A.J. ORCID record for Kavanagh, A.J.. Manney, G.L. Daffer, W.H. (2012) Seasonal variations in lower stratospheric gravity wave energy above the Falkland Islands.

2011

Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Hibbins, Robert E. ORCID record for Hibbins, Robert E.. Jarvis, Martin J. Colwell, Steve R. (2011) Seasonal variations of gravity wave activity in the lower stratosphere over an Antarctic Peninsula station.

Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Hibbins, Robert E. ORCID record for Hibbins, Robert E.. Jarvis, Martin. (2011) Calibrating an imaging riometer: determination of the true beam azimuth angle position.

Lam, Mai Mai ORCID record for Lam, Mai Mai. Horne, Richard B. ORCID record for Horne, Richard B.. Meredith, Nigel P. ORCID record for Meredith, Nigel P.. Glauert, Sarah A. ORCID record for Glauert, Sarah A.. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Green, Janet C. (2011) Origin of energetic electron precipitation >30 keV into the atmosphere.

Clilverd, Mark A. ORCID record for Clilverd, Mark A.. Rodger, Craig J. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Spanswick, Emma. Breen, Paul ORCID record for Breen, Paul. Menk, Frederick W. Grew, Russell S. Hayashi, Kanji. Mann, Ian R. (2011) Energetic outer radiation belt electron precipitation during recurrent solar activity.

2010

Clilverd, M.A. ORCID record for Clilverd, M.A.. Rodger, C.J. Brundell, J.B. Bahr, J. Cobbett, N. Moffat-griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-griffin, T.. Kavanagh, A.J. Seppala, A. Thomson, N.R. Friedel, R.H.W. Menk, F.W. (2010) Energetic electron precipitation during substorm injection events: high-latitude fluxes and an unexpected midlatitude signature.

2009

Moffat-Griffin, T. ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, T.. Hibbins, R.E. ORCID record for Hibbins, R.E.. Nielsen, K. Jarvis, M.J. Taylor, M.J. (2009) Observing mesospheric gravity waves with an imaging riometer..

2007

Clilverd, Mark ORCID record for Clilverd, Mark. Rodger, Craig. Moffat-Griffin, Tracy ORCID record for Moffat-Griffin, Tracy. Verronen, Pekka. (2007) Improved dynamic geomagnetic rigidity cutoff modeling: testing predictive accuracy.

7. PRESCIENT

   PRESCIENT supports long-term, strategically important measurements and capabilities for the wider science community.

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17. Predicting the mesosphere

    MesoS2D uses powerful radars and satellites to study a little-understood layer of the atmosphere, the mesosphere.

    Read more of: Predicting the mesosphere

    

34. Gravity waves over the Southern Ocean

    DRAGON-WEX used a novel 3D satellite analysis method combined with meteor radars at Rothera and King Edward Point to track how gravity waves influence atmospheric circulation.

    Read more of: Gravity waves over the Southern Ocean

    

37. Space Weather Observatory

    Assessing Space Weather impacts

    Read more of: Space Weather Observatory

    

42. New gravity wave observatories in Antarctica

    ANGWIN brings together different nations to observe gravity waves over Antarctica and understand how these atmospheric waves affect global weather patterns and polar climate processes.

    Read more of: New gravity wave observatories in Antarctica

    

45. Decoding Ionospheric Dynamics

    DRIIVE researches how polar ionosphere changes affect satellite orbits, communications, and space weather forecasts.

    Read more of: Decoding Ionospheric Dynamics

    

1. Grant to understand future impacts on atmospheric prediction

   A new project to improve scientists understanding of the impact of space weather and climate change on the atmosphere starts this month (January 2022). A team from British Antarctic Survey, […]

   Read more of: Grant to understand future impacts on atmospheric prediction

   

2. Ship-borne imager system

   This system is comprised of three 1 degree field of view instruments that measure the OH airglow emission at ~87 km altitude.

   Read more of: Ship-borne imager system

   

3. all-sky infrared airglow imager

   This instrument observes infrared emissions during the night and operates on a high temporal cadence.

   Read more of: all-sky infrared airglow imager

   

4. Multi-filter airglow imager

   This instrument has a fish-eye lens and a filter wheel that allows it to observe different airglow emissions.

   Read more of: Multi-filter airglow imager

   

5. All sky camera (colour)

   This instrument produces an all-sky image in visible light. Used for cloud detection and studying the properties of clouds. It can also be used for studying aurora.

   Read more of: All sky camera (colour)

   

6. All sky camera (black and white)

   This instrument produces an all-sky image in visible light. Used for cloud detection and studying the properties of clouds.

   Read more of: All sky camera (black and white)

   

7. Andor Airglow Spectrometer

   This instrument observes the spectra of OH airglow emission from ~87 km altitude.

   Read more of: Andor Airglow Spectrometer