Katabatic wind propagation over the western Ross Sea observed using ERS-1 scatterometer data

Marshall, Gareth J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8887-7314; Turner, John ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6111-5122. 1997 Katabatic wind propagation over the western Ross Sea observed using ERS-1 scatterometer data. Antarctic Science, 9 (2). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102097000278

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Abstract/Summary

Wind fields derived from ERS-1 scatterometer data, acquired over the open water present in the western Ross Sea during the summer season, are used to study the patterns of mesoscale atmospheric flow connected with surges of katabatic air from the Terra Nova Bay convergence zone, located in the coastal region of Victoria Land. These katabatic winds may turn northward but also southward, or divide into separate northward- and southward-turning components; the latter situation is illustrated by a detailed case study. Analysis of concurrent AWS data, suggests that the most likely mechanism for the observed southward turning is the existence of a highly-localised low pressure centre south of Terra Nova Bay. Comparison of multitemporal ERS-1 scatterometer wind fields with AWS wind measurements demonstrate that the satellite data are: (i) able to correctly portray changes in mesoscale circulation patterns, and (ii) suitable for the routine monitoring of winds over open water around the Antarctic coastline, despite a less than ideal temporal coverage.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102097000278
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme
ISSN:	0954-1020
Date made live:	26 Sep 2016 12:46 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514591

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