11th International Workshop on Acoustic and Radio EeV Neutrino Detection Activities

Wind Related Background Radio Pulses at the Radio Neutrino Observatory in Greenland

Jun 9, 2026, 11:30 AM

15m

Schlosshotel Karlsruhe

Calibration/Backgrounds

Speaker

Pascal Schriefer (ECAP / Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)

Description

During periods with high wind speeds (> 8 − 10 m/s) an overwhelming number of radio pulses are detected with RNO-G. This effect has also been reported by other polar radio experiments, and, more recently, also by experiments in sandy environments. This poses a significant challenge for the identification of cosmic particles during those times. Periods with strong winds are not only very common in Greenland, but, during the polar winter, wind is the only renewable energy source available to keep the autonomus stations operational. In this contribution, the current state of knowledge about wind-related backgrounds is discussed, as well as plans of how to further investigate them within RNO-G and with dedicated set-ups.