Atmospheric signals and characteristics of accumulation in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Noone, David; Turner, John ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6111-5122; Mulvaney, Robert ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5372-8148. 1999 Atmospheric signals and characteristics of accumulation in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research, 104 (D16). 19191-19211. 10.1029/1999JD900376

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/1999JD900376

Abstract/Summary

With the planned European Programme for Ice Coring in Antarctica in Dronning Maud Land it is important to understand the processes leading to accumulation for successful interpretation of core data. Because it is impractical to obtain precipitation observations with a large spatial coverage and on a daily timescale in Antarctica, model-generated precipitation must be considered for a comprehensive study of the region. However, without observational data it is difficult to check the veracity of the model data. Precipitation data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis project shows that 89% of days have low (under 0.2 mm) precipitation resulting in 31% of the annual total. At the other extreme, less than 1% of days have high (over 1 mm) precipitation, which results in 20% of the annual total. It is reasoned that the changes in the frequency of extreme precipitation events could alter the trace record in ice cores and lead to a bias in reconstructed paleotemperatures. Case studies reveal that high-precipitation days have amplified upper level planetary waves directing warm moist air to the region. Associated with this is the presence of a cyclone in or at the northeast extreme of the Weddell Sea. Commonly, the longwaves provide a blocked anticyclone in the South Atlantic to form a dipolar channeling of the air mass. The accumulation variability is linked to the variability in the intensity of these storms and their tracks. It is seen that this is related to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and a semiannual cycle.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1029/1999JD900376
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme
ISSN:	0148-0227
Date made live:	22 Oct 2013 10:28 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503602

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1029/1999JD900376

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme

ISSN:

0148-0227

Date made live:

22 Oct 2013 10:28 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503602