A few decades ago when CFCs first caused the hole in the ozone layer, scientists were throwing out the data that indicated the problem as an anomaly, too strange to be accurate. Once they actually figured out that the data was correct and there was an issue going on, South Pole became an obvious spot for ozone monitoring and research. Now, the atmosphere scientists down here launch about two helium-filled balloons/month that get up to about 20 miles above the earth's surface before popping. The balloons carry electronics that collect info on the way up as well as the way down for transmitting back to the station. Recently, I got to help them prep one of the balloons...
...and launch it!
We could still see it in the sky several minutes later, looking like the moon on its way into the upper atmosphere...
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