: Drifting snow on buildings, equipment, and tents at research camps throughout the Antarctic continent is a persistent problem. In this handbook, we provide methods to estimate the severity of the drifting problem at a proposed or an existing camp location and methods to ameliorate the drifting problems. The guidelines provided apply to camps where the wind is predominately from one direction, typical of a large percentage of the Antarctic continent where katabatic or down slope winds are dominant. The snowdrift protection methods outlined in this handbook do not suit regions where the storm winds can come from several dominant directions. Also included is a case study to demonstrate application of the methods outlined for estimating the severity of the drifting problem and for properly sizing the snowdrift protection system. Additionally, it provides methods to estimate the volume of snow that can be deposited during a camp season and gives examples of how to estimate the level of effort required to install the protection systems and to manage the snow throughout the camp season.

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Antarctic Camps Snow Drift Management Handbook

The heights of automatic weather station (AWS) sensors over the Antarctic ice sheet are nominal and change with snow accumulation or ablation. Therefore, the measured data may not be used directly. In this study, we analyzed the impact of snow accumulation on AWS observations using continuous measurements from three AWS that were deployed on the traverse route from the Zhongshan Station to Dome A over East Antarctica. We then corrected the measured air temperature to account for changes in the sensor height relative to the snow surface to improve the authenticity and representativeness of the observation data from the AWS. The results show that (i) the annual mean snow accumulations at Dome A, Eagle and LGB69 were approximately 0.11 m, 0.30 m and 0.49 m, respectively, and the corresponding annual mean air temperature differences between the corrected and measured values at 1 m in height were 0.34℃, 0.29℃ and 0.35℃; (ii) the impact on air temperature from accumulation decreases with height from the surface; (iii) the air temperature difference between the corrected and measured values was not directly proportional to the snow accumulation but was related to the seasonal air temperature variations and the intensity of the local surface inversion; and (iv) the averaged corrected air temperature was higher than the measured values except during the summer when there were days without temperature inversion. The magnitude of the temperature difference between the corrected and measured was mainly determined by snow accumulation and the intensity of the local surface inversion.

Impacts of snow accumulation on air temperature measured by automatic weather stations on the Antarctic ice sheet

This report reviews 2012-2013 field season activities of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Antarctic Automatic Weather Station (AWS) program, summarizes the science that these sites are supporting, and outlines the factors that impact the number of AWS sites serviced in any given field season. The 2012-2013 austral summer season was unusual in the AWS network history. Challenges encountered include, but are not lim- ited to, warmer than normal conditions in the Ross Island area impacting airfield opera- tions, changes to logistical procedures, and competition for shared resources. A flexible work plan provides the best means for taking on these challenges while maximizing AWS servicing efforts under restricted conditions and meeting the need for routine servicing that

https://amrc.ssec.wisc.edu/aws/documents/fieldreports/aws_fldrpt1213.pdf

Maria Tsukernik

Papers

Automatic Weather Station (AWS) Program operated by the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the 2012-2013 field season: Challenges and Successes