Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute” Russian Antarctic Expedition
FEDERAL SERVICE OF RUSSIA FOR HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING State Institution “Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute” Russian Antarctic Expedition
QUARTERLY BULLETIN ʋ2 (51) April - June 2010 STATE OF ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations
St. Petersburg 2010 FEDERAL SERVICE OF RUSSIA FOR HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING State Institution “Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute” Russian Antarctic Expedition
QUARTERLY BULLETIN ʋ2 (51) April - June 2010
STATE OF ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations
Edited by V.V. Lukin
St. Petersburg 2010 Editor-in-Chief - M.O. Krichak (Russian Antarctic Expedition –RAE)
Authors and contributors
Section 1 M. O. Krichak (RAE), Section 2 Ye. I. Aleksandrov (Department of Meteorology) Section 3 G. Ye. Ryabkov (Department of Long-Range Weather Forecasting) Section 4 A. I. Korotkov (Department of Ice Regime and Forecasting) Section 5 Ye. Ye. Sibir (Department of Meteorology) Section 6 I. V. Moskvin, Yu.G.Turbin (Department of Geophysics) Section 7 V. V. Lukin (RAE) Section 8 B. R. Mavlyudov (RAS IG) Section 9 V. L. Martyanov (RAE)
Translated by I.I. Solovieva http://www.aari.aq/, Antarctic Research and Russian Antarctic Expedition, Reports and Glossaries, Quarterly Bulletin.
Acknowledgements: Russian Antarctic Expedition is grateful to all AARI staff for participation and help in preparing this Bulletin.
For more information about the contents of this publication, please, contact Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of Roshydromet Russian Antarctic Expedition Bering St., 38, St. Petersburg 199397 Russia Phone: (812) 352 15 41; 337 31 04 Fax: (812) 337 31 86 E-mail: [email protected] CONTENTS PREFACE……………………….…………………………………….………………………….1
1. DATA OF AEROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS…………………………………….…………………………3 2. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN APRIL – JUNE 2010………….. ………..42 3. REVIEW OF THE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES OVER THE ANTARCTIC IN APRIL – JUNE 2010..………………………………………………………………….48 4. BRIEF REVIEW OF ICE PROCESSES IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN ACCORDING TO DATA OF SATELLITE AND COASTAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN APRIL – JUNE 2010……………………...... 49 5. RESULTS OF TOTAL OZONE MEASUREMENTS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2010………………………………….51 6. GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN APRIL – JUNE 2010…………..….…………………………………...... 52
7. XXXIII ANTARCTIC TREATY CONSULTATIVE MEETING…………………..61
8. SORTED CIRCLES ON FILDES PENINSULA (KING_GEORGE ISLAND)………..64
9. MAIN RAE EVENTS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2010…………………….....66 PREFACE
The activity of the Russian Antarctic Expedition in the second quarter of 2010 was carried out at five permanent year-round Antarctic stations – Mirny, Novolazarevskaya, Bellingshausen, Progress and Vostok stations and at the field bases Molodezhnaya, Leningradskaya, Russkaya and Druzhnaya-4. The work was performed by the wintering team of the 55th RAE under a full complex of the Antarctic environmental monitoring programs. At the field bases Molodezhnaya, Leningradskaya, Russkaya and Druzhnaya-4, the automatic meteorological stations AWS, model MAWS-110, and the automatic geodetic complexes FAGS were in operation. Section I in this issue of the Bulletin contains monthly averages and extreme data of standard meteorological and solar radiation observations that were carried out at permanent stations in April-June 2010, and data of upper-air sounding carried out at two stations – Mirny and Novolazarevskaya once a day at 00.00 of universal time coordinated (UTC). More frequent sounding is conducted during the periods of the International Geophysical Interval in accordance with the International Geophysical Calendar in 2010 during 11 to 25 January, 5 to 18 April, 12 to 25 July and 11 to 24 October at 00 h and 12 h UTC. The meteorological tables present the atmospheric pressure values for the coastal stations, which are referenced to sea level. The atmospheric pressure at Vostok station is not reduced to sea level and is presented at the level of the meteorological site. Along with the monthly averages of meteorological parameters, the tables in Section
1 contain their deviations from multiyear averages (anomalies) and deviations in Vf fractions (normalized anomalies (f-favg)/ Vf). For the monthly totals of precipitation and total radiation, the relative anomalies (f/favg) are also presented. The statistical characteristics necessary for calculation of anomalies were derived at the AARI Department of Meteorology for the period 1961-1990 as recommended by the World Meteorological Organization. For Progress station, the anomalies are not calculated due to a short observation series. The Bulletin contains brief overviews with assessments of the state of the Antarctic environment based on the actual data for the quarter under consideration. Sections 2 and 3 are devoted to the meteorological and synoptic conditions. The review of synoptic conditions (section 3) is based on the analysis of current aero-synoptic information, which is performed by the RAE weather forecaster at Progress station, and on more complete data of the Southern Hemisphere reported to the AARI. The analysis of ice conditions in the Southern Ocean (Section 4) is based on satellite data received at Bellingshausen, Novolazarevskaya, Mirny and Progress stations and on the observations conducted at the coastal Bellingshausen, Mirny and Progress stations. The anomalous character of ice conditions is evaluated against the multiyear averages of the drifting ice edge location and the mean multiyear dates of the onset of different ice phases in the coastal areas of the Southern Ocean adjoining the Antarctic stations. As the average and extreme values of the ice edge location, the updated data, which were obtained at the AARI for each month based on the results of processing the entire available historical set of predominantly national information on the Antarctic for the period 1971 to 2005, are used. Section 5 presents an overview of the total ozone (TO) concentration on the basis of measurements at the Russian stations during the given quarter. The measurements are interrupted in the wintertime at the Sun’s heights of less than 5o. Data of geophysical observations published in Section 6, present the results of measurements carried out under the geomagnetic and ionospheric programs at Mirny, Novolazarevskaya, Vostok and Progress stations. Section 7 of this Bulletin presents information about the XXXIII Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting that was held on 2 to 14 May 2010 in Punta-del-Este (Uruguay). Section 8 contains an article on sorted circles on the Fildes Peninsula (King George Island) that were investigated during the period of the 55th seasonal RAE. Section 9 sets forth the main directions of the logistical activity of RAE during the quarter under consideration. RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS AND FIELD BASES
MIRNY STATION
STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89592 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 39.9 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES M = 66q33c S; O = 93q01c E GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES ) = -76.8q; ' = 151.1q BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY December 7 – January 5 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT No
NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION
STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89512 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 119 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES M = 70q46c S; O = 11q50c E GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES ) = -62.6q; ' = 51.0q BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY November 15 – January 28 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT May 21 – July 23
BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION
STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89050 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 15.4 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES M = 62q12c S; O = 58q56c W BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY No BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT No
PROGRESS STATION
STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89574 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 14,6 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES M = 69q23c S; O = 76q23c E BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY November 21 – January 22 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT May 28 – July 16
VOSTOK STATION
STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89606 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 3488 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES M = 78q27c S; O = 106q52c E GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES ) = -89.3q; ' = 139.5q BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY October 21 – February 21 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT April 23 – August 21
FIELD BASE MOLODEZHNAYA
STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89542 HEIGHT OF AWS ABOVE SEA LEVEL 40 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES M = 67q40c S; O = 45q51c E BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY November 29 – January 13 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT June 11 – July 2
FIELD BASE LENINGRADSKAYA
STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89657 HEIGHT OF AWS ABOVE SEA LEVEL 291 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES M = 69q30,1c S; O = 159q23,2c E
FIELD BASE RUSSKAYA
STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89132 HEIGHT OF AWS ABOVE SEA LEVEL 140 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES M = 76q46c S; O = 136q47,9c E
FIELD BASE DRUZHNAYA-4
HEIGHT OF ABOVE SEA LEVEL 50 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES M = 69q44c S; O = 70q43c E
FIELD BASE SOYUZ
HEIGHT OF ABOVE SEA LEVEL 50 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES M = 70q34c S; O = 68q47c E 3 1. DATA OF AEROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS
APRIL 2010
MIRNY STATION Table 1.1 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear
averages (favg) Mirny, April 2010 Normalized Anomaly Relative anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg f/favg (f-favg)/Vf Sea level air pressure, hPa 988.7 1001.4 965.8 0.5 0.1 Air temperature, qC -15.9 -6.1 -30.3 -2.0 -1.1 Relative humidity, % 74 1.7 0.4 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 6.9 0.2 0.3 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 2.4 -0.6 -0.5 Precipitation, mm 12.3 -27.2 -0.8 0.3 Wind speed, m/s 12.1 27.0 -0.3 -0.2 Prevailing wind direction, deg 158 Total radiation, MJ/m2 103.3 -3.7 -0.4 1.0 Total ozone content (TO), DU 308 346 265 4
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.1. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F). Mirny station. April 2010. 5
Table 1.2 Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Mirny, April 2010 Number of Isobaric Resultant Number of Isobaric Dew point Resultant Wind days surface Temperature, wind days surface, deficit, wind speed, stability without height, T qC direction, without P hPa D qC m/s parameter,% temperature H m deg wind data data
983 39 -15.4 3.5 925 499 -14.6 5.8 96 10 93 0 0 850 1135 -16.2 6.3 96 7 77 0 0 700 2586 -20.2 7.9 246 3 39 0 0 500 5001 -34.6 8.1 267 10 77 0 0 400 6526 -44.3 7.3 275 14 81 0 0 300 8399 -55.6 6.7 278 17 83 0 0 200 10987 -51.9 8.3 279 18 93 0 0 150 12850 -51.7 9.0 280 19 96 0 0 100 15469 -53.4 9.3 278 20 97 0 0 70 17747 -55.1 9.3 279 23 98 0 0 50 19890 -56.5 9.0 278 24 98 1 1 30 23106 -57.9 9.1 277 28 98 1 1 20 25654 -58.3 9.0 277 31 98 1 1 10 29895 -58.4 9.5 278 41 99 11 9
Table 1.3 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface height and temperature Mirny, April 2010
P hPa ɇɇavg, m ɇ-Havg)/Vɇ ɌɌavg, qɋ ɌɌavg)/VɌ 850 -9 -0.3 0.0 0.0 700 -11 -0.4 0.4 0.4 500 -22 -0.6 -0.3 -0.2 400 -26 -0.5 -0.2 -0.1 300 -28 -0.4 -1.0 -0.7 200 -47 -0.8 0.0 0.0 150 -51 -0.8 0.3 0.3 100 -38 -0.5 0.3 0.2 70 -52 -0.7 0.3 0.2 50 -48 -0.5 0.2 0.2 30 -76 -0.6 -0.1 -0.1 20 -74 -0.5 -0.7 -0.3 10 -215 -1.0 -4.0 -1.0 6
NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION
Table 1.4 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear
averages (favg) Novolazarevskaya, April 2010 Normalized Anomaly Relative Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg anomaly f/favg (f-favg)/Vf Sea level air pressure, hPa 985.8 1006.9 964.4 -1.8 -0.5 Air temperature, qC -11.7 -3.7 -21.8 0.1 0.1 Relative humidity, % 39 -9.0 -2.0 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5.2 -0.3 -0.3 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 3.3 2.1 2.6 Precipitation, mm 11.2 -4.3 -0.2 0.7 Wind speed, m/s 11.4 30.0 0.5 0.3 Prevailing wind direction, deg 135 Total radiation, MJ/m2 69.4 -1.6 -0.3 1.0 Total ozone content (TO), DU 264 334 207 7
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.2. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow coverage (F). Novolazarevskaya station, April 2010. 8
Table 1.5 Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Novolazarevskaya, April 2010 Number of Isobaric Resultant Number of Isobaric Dew point Resultant Wind days surface Temperature, wind days surface, deficit, wind speed, stability without height, T qC direction, without P hPa D qC m/s parameter,% temperature H m deg wind data data
969 122 -11.4 10.8 925 475 -11.9 11.7 113 16 95 0 0 850 1116 -16.0 10.5 98 15 95 0 0 700 2555 -22.6 8.1 95 6 57 0 0 500 4959 -35.3 8.1 143 1 11 0 0 400 6476 -45.4 8.1 196 3 16 0 0 300 8340 -56.5 8.0 208 5 28 0 0 200 10906 -54.3 9.5 239 7 62 0 0 150 12750 -53.9 10.7 250 9 80 0 0 100 15341 -55.7 12.0 251 11 89 0 0 70 17599 -57.6 13.0 255 14 91 1 1 50 19710 -59.5 13.6 257 17 92 1 1 30 22880 -61.2 14.7 261 22 93 2 2 20 25409 -61.1 15.5 261 24 94 4 4
Table 1.6 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Novolazarevskaya, April 2010
P hPa ɇɇavg, m ɇ-Havg)/Vɇ ɌɌavg, qɋ ɌɌavg)/VɌ 850 -32 -0.9 0.1 0.1 700 -35 -0.9 0.0 0.0 500 -38 -0.9 0.7 0.5 400 -38 -0.8 0.5 0.4 300 -44 -0.9 -0.6 -0.5 200 -64 -1.3 -1.1 -0.7 150 -73 -1.4 -0.4 -0.3 100 -79 -1.3 -0.2 -0.1 70 -86 -1.3 0.0 0.0 50 -90 -1.2 0.2 0.2 30 -104 -1.2 0.4 0.2 20 -108 -0.9 0.3 0.2 9
BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION
Table 1.7 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear
averages (favg)
Bellingshausen, April 2010 Normalized Anomaly Relative Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg anomaly f/favg (f-favg)/Vf Sea level air pressure, hPa 986.2 1009.9 965.0 -4.8 -1.1 Air temperature, qC -2.2 3.5 -14.1 -0.2 -0.1 Relative humidity, % 89 2.2 0.7 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 9.5 0.5 1.3 Lower cloudiness (sky coverage),tenths 6.8 -1.0 -1.0 Precipitation, mm 86.5 19.3 1.1 1.3 Wind speed, m/s 6.4 19.0 0.9 0.9 Prevailing wind direction, deg 315 Total radiation, MJ/m2 67.8 -20.2 -2.2 0.8 10
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.3. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F). . Bellingshausen station. April 2010. 11
PROGRESS STATION
Table 1.8
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f)
Progress, April 2010 Parameter f fmax fmin Sea level air pressure, hPa 989.4 1003.2 967.9 Air temperature, 0C -15.1 -2.6 -32.0 Relative humidity, % 64 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5.9 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 2.1 Precipitation, mm 11.9 Wind speed, m/s 4.3 13.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 90 Total radiation, MJ/m2 69.6 12
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.4. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F). Progress station. April 2010. 13
VOSTOK STATION Table 1.9 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Vostok, April 2010
Normalized Anomaly Relative anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg f/favg (f-favg)/Vf Sea level air pressure, hPa 618.4 628.2 610.6 -4.5 -1.5 Air temperature, qC -67.5 -50.2 -79.9 -2.6 -1.2 Relative humidity, % 57 -11.1 -2.3 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 3.2 0.1 0.1 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 0.0 0.0 0.0 Precipitation, mm 0.5 -2.2 -1.3 0.2 Wind speed, m/s 1.7 11.0 -4.0 -3.6 Prevailing wind direction, deg 158 Total radiation, MJ/m2 22.9 4.9 1.6 1.3 Total ozone content (TO), DU - - - 14
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.5. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, ground level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line, precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F). Vostok station. April 2010. 15
A P R I L 2 0 1 0
Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hPa (at Vostok station - ground level pressure)
988.7 985.8 986.2 989.4 1100900 618.4 500700 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
(f-favg)/Vf -0.2 0.3 0.0 0.4
Air Airtemperature, temperature, °C °C
-11.7 -0.5-2.2 0 -15.9 -15.1 -20-10.0 -40-30.0 -9 -8.2 -60-50.0 -11.8 -67.5 -70.0-80 -62.4 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok Vostok
(f-favg)/Vf -0.4 -1.4 0.1 -1.3
RelativeRelative humidity, humidity, % % 88 89 100 8074 64 100 3939 58 58 57 5050 00 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok Vostok
(f-favg)/Vf 0.8 1.6 -0.9 -2.1
TotalTotal cloudiness, cloudiness, tenths tenths
8.4 8.29.5 10 6.9 7.6 5.9 55.2 3.3 3.2 5 0 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz BellingsBellings Progress Progress Vostok Vostok
(f-favg)/Vf -0.5 1.4 -0.5 2.1
Precipitation,Precipitation, mm mm
74.894.486.5 100 49 50 4.912.3 10.71.411.2 11.84.911.9 13.97.9 0.5 0 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok Vostok
f/favg 2.2 2.9 0.8 0.1
MeanMean wind wind speed,speed, speed, m/sm/s m/s
12.1 11.4 1520 13.612.9 10.912.7 10 6.18.76.4 8.26 4.3 5.24.7 105 1.7 0 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz BellingsBellings Progress Progress Vostok VostokVostok
(f-favg)/Vf 0.8 -0.3 -1.0 -1.6
Fig.1.6. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations. April 2010. 16
MAY 2010
MIRNY STATION Table 1.10 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear
averages (favg) Mirny, May 2010 Normalized Anomaly Relative Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg anomaly f/favg (f-favg)/Vf Sea level air pressure, hPa 984.7 1002.9 968.1 -4.7 -0.9 Air temperature, 0C -16.0 -7.0 -28.0 -0.6 -0.2 Relative humidity, % 71 -3.2 -0.5 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 8.0 1.4 1.6 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 4.9 1.7 1.1 Precipitation, mm 46.9 -3.1 -0.1 0.9 Wind speed, m/s 14.5 26.0 1.6 1.1 Prevailing wind direction, deg 135 Total radiation, MJ/m2 19.7 -2.3 -0.7 0.9 Total ozone content (TO), DU 297 326 271 17
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.7. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F). Mirny station. May 2010. 18
Table 1.11 Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Mirny, May 2010 Number of Isobaric Resultant Number of Isobaric Dew point Resultant Wind days surface Temperature, wind days surface, deficit, wind speed, stability without height, T 0C direction, without P hPa D 0C m/s parameter,% temperature H m deg wind data data
980 39 -15.3 3.4 925 477 -15.5 6.2 95 15 98 0 1 850 1109 -18.8 6.4 82 13 96 0 1 700 2546 -21.9 7.6 64 6 52 0 1 500 4950 -35.9 8.9 35 2 14 0 0 400 6462 -45.9 8.3 294 2 17 0 0 300 8326 -56.8 7.6 269 6 45 1 0 200 10849 -60.1 7.8 269 11 81 1 1 150 12645 -59.9 8.1 269 13 91 1 1 100 15155 -63.0 8.2 269 18 94 2 2 70 17330 -65.2 8.3 272 23 95 2 2 50 19370 -67.1 8.2 272 29 96 3 3 30 22435 -68.2 8.2 274 35 97 3 5 20 24862 -68.3 8.6 276 42 97 3 4 10 29000 -66.0 8.8 277 49 98 9 9
Table 1.12 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Mirny, May 2010
P hPa ɇɇavg, m ɇ-Havg)/Vɇ ɌɌavg, qɋ ɌɌavg)/VɌ 850 -37 -0.8 -1.3 -0.8 700 -48 -1.0 -0.4 -0.3 500 -57 -0.9 -0.4 -0.2 400 -69 -1.0 -0.6 -0.3 300 -72 -0.9 -0.4 -0.4 200 -105 -1.2 -2.5 -1.3 150 -124 -1.3 -2.2 -1.2 100 -156 -1.4 -2.7 -1.3 70 -185 -1.3 -2.5 -1.0 50 -220 -1.5 -2.3 -0.9 30 -243 -1.3 -1.3 -0.5 20 -284 -1.1 -1.0 -0.3 10 -426 -1.3 -0.3 -0.1 19
NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION
Table 1.13 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg) Novolazarevskaya, May 2010 Normalized Anomaly Relative Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg anomaly f/favg (f-favg)/Vf Sea level air pressure, hPa 989.5 1023.3 954.1 -0.3 -0.1 Air temperature, 0C -16.0 -6.1 -27.1 -2.6 -1.2 Relative humidity, % 45 -4.4 -0.8 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5.5 -0.4 -0.3 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 1.5 0.1 0.1 Precipitation, mm 10.5 -13.0 -0.4 0.4 Wind speed, m/s 6.9 24.0 -4.2 -2.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 135 Total radiation, MJ/m2 5.7 0.7 0.4 1.1 Total ozone content (TO), DU - - - 20
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.8. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow coverage (F). Novolazarevskaya station, May 2010. 21
Table 1.14 Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Novolazarevskaya, May 2010 Number of Isobaric Resultant Number of Isobaric Dew point Resultant Wind days surface Temperature, wind days surface, deficit, wind speed, stability without height, T 0C direction, without P hPa D 0C m/s parameter,% temperature H m deg wind data data
974 122 -15.3 9.8 925 511 -13.4 11.6 113 9 86 0 0 850 1149 -16.6 11.4 104 11 87 0 0 700 2588 -22.3 10.2 131 5 51 0 0 500 4992 -36.0 9.6 199 5 39 0 0 400 6506 -46.2 9.1 209 7 47 0 0 300 8361 -58.2 8.8 222 11 62 0 0 200 10857 -63.9 9.5 231 12 75 0 0 150 12617 -63.9 10.5 243 12 86 0 0 100 15087 -67.1 11.2 252 14 90 1 1 70 17202 -70.6 11.9 256 17 93 3 3 50 19184 -73.6 12.7 258 22 95 4 4 30 22146 -75.8 13.6 260 28 96 6 6 20 24484 -76.4 14.4 263 32 97 8 8
Table 1.15 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Novolazarevskaya, May 2010
P hPa ɇɇavg, m ɇ-Havg)/Vɇ ɌɌavg, qɋ ɌɌavg)/VɌ 850 -12 -0.2 1.0 0.6 700 -10 -0.2 1.5 0.8 500 -4 -0.1 1.5 0.8 400 6 0.1 1.3 0.7 300 16 0.2 0.0 0.0 200 -22 -0.2 -3.4 -2.0 150 -50 -0.6 -2.8 -1.8 100 -78 -0.8 -2.7 -1.6 70 -132 -1.3 -3.2 -1.7 50 -164 -1.5 -3.6 -1.7 30 -228 -1.6 -3.7 -1.5 20 -256 -1.2 -3.5 -1.4 22
BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION
Table 1.16 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear
averages (favg) Bellingshausen, May 2010 Normalized Anomaly Relative Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg anomaly f/favg (f-favg)/Vf Sea level air pressure, hPa 986.9 1007.9 954.8 -8.1 -1.5 Air temperature, 0C -2.4 3.0 -12.6 1.8 0.9 Relative humidity, % 90 2.9 0.8 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 9.4 0.7 1.2 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 6.3 -1.3 -1.4 Precipitation, mm 78.3 15.2 1.0 1.2 Wind speed, m/s 6.4 20.0 0.8 0.6 Prevailing wind direction, deg 360 Total radiation, MJ/m2 27.5 -5.5 -1.1 0.8 23
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.9. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F). Bellingshausen station. May 2010. 24
PROGRESS STATION
Table 1.17
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f)
Progress, May 2010 Parameter f fmax fmin Sea level air pressure, hPa 987.3 1005.9 970.5 Air temperature, 0C -14.1 -5.1 -23.8 Relative humidity, % 51 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5.2 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 1.1 Precipitation, mm 5.1 Wind speed, m/s 7.7 16.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 90 Total radiation, MJ/m2 *
* No observations were carried out 25
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.10. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F).
Progress station. May 2010. 26
VOSTOK STATION
Table 1.18 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear
averages (favg) Vostok, May 2010 Normalized Anomaly Relative Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg anomaly f/favg (f-favg)/Vf Station surface level air pressure, hPa 622.3 638.6 606.9 -1.3 -0.2 Air temperature, qC -64.7 -51.3 -71.7 1.1 0.4 Relative humidity, % 58 -10.1 -2.0 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 3.7 0.8 0.7 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 0.0 0.0 0.0 Precipitation, mm 1.6 -1.4 -0.5 0.5 Wind speed, m/s 5.2 9.0 -0.4 -0.4 Prevailing wind direction, deg 180 Total radiation, MJ/m2 Polar night Total ozone content (TO), DU - - - 27
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.11. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, ground level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F). Vostok station. May 2010. 28
M A Y 2 0 0 9
AtmosphericAtmospheric pressure pressure at seaat sea level, level, hPa hPa (at Vostok (at Vostokstation station - ground - ground level level pressure) pressure)
981.8 977.8 989.4 985.3 1100 984.7 989.5 866.9 985.4 900 614.4622.3 900700 500700 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok Vostok
(f-favg)/Vf -0.5 0.6 -1.5 0.7
Air Airtemperature, temperature, °C °C -0.8-2.4 100 -16.0 -16.0 -14.1 -10-20 -30-40 -64.7 -50-60 -21 -12.6 -17.3 -70-80 -66.3 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz BellingsBellings Progress Progress VostokVostok
(f-favg)/Vf 1.4 0.5 0.7 1.1
RelativeRelative humidity, humidity, % %
7271 88 90 100 4545 51 51 57 58 50 0 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress VostokVostok
(f-favg)/Vf 1.2 1.7 1.1 -2.0
TotalTotal cloudiness, cloudiness, tenths tenths 9.4 8.0 7.1 8.8 10 3.9 5.5 5.6 5.2 3.7 5 0.8 0 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz BellingsBellings Progress Progress VostokVostok
(f-favg)/Vf 2.9 1.3 1.0 1.8
Precipitation,Precipitation, mm mm
74.878.3 100 46.9 50 4.9 10.710.5 4.9 5.1 13.9 1.6 0 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok Vostok
f/favg 0.9 7.5 1.5 1.3
MeanMean wind wind speed, speed, m/s m/s
20 12.914.5 12.7 6.9 8.76.4 6 7.7 4.7 10 5.2 0 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz BellingsBellings Progress Progress VostokVostok
(f-favg)/Vf 1.5 0.4 0.7 -0.9
Fig. 1.12. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations. May 2010. 29
JUNE 2010
MIRNY STATION
Table 1.19 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear
averages (favg) Mirny, June 2010 Normalized Anomaly Relative Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg anomaly f/favg (f-favg)/Vf Sea level air pressure, hPa 978.2 998.6 940.2 -11.1 -2.0 Air temperature, 0C -14.4 -5.2 -25.3 1.0 0.5 Relative humidity, % 77 1.7 0.3 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 8.3 1.6 1.3 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 6.8 3.6 3.0 Precipitation, mm 122.3 49.6 1.2 1.7 Wind speed, m/s 15.2 34.0 2.2 1.5 Prevailing wind direction, deg 90 Total radiation, MJ/m2 2.8 -1.2 -1.3 0.7 Total ozone content (TO), DU - - - 30
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.13. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F). Mirny station. June 2010. 31
Table 1.20 Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages)
Mirny, June 2010 Number of Isobaric Resultant Number of Isobaric Dew point Resultant Wind days surface Temperature, wind days surface, deficit, wind speed, stability without height, T 0C direction, without P hPa D 0C m/s parameter,% temperature H m deg wind data data
976 39 -15.0 3.8 925 441 -14.9 6.5 97 14 92 5 5 850 1075 -18.1 6.6 87 13 92 5 5 700 2512 -22.5 7.7 73 6 65 5 5 500 4906 -37.6 8.8 348 3 34 5 5 400 6408 -48.0 7.8 319 6 50 5 5 300 8251 -60.0 7.0 310 8 59 5 5 200 10723 -66.9 7.0 296 12 80 7 7 150 12448 -67.6 7.3 284 15 90 7 7 100 14862 -70.9 7.4 280 20 95 8 8 70 16955 -73.9 7.5 281 26 97 9 9 50 18903 -75.9 7.4 282 31 97 9 9 30 21836 -77.4 7.1 282 39 97 9 9 20 24159 -77.0 7.4 285 44 97 10 9 10 28187 -72.6 7.7 284 51 95 10 9
Table 1.21 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature
Mirny, June 2010
P hPa ɇɇavg, m ɇ-Havg)/Vɇ ɌɌavg, qɋ ɌɌavg)/VɌ 850 -65 -2.0 -0.3 -0.2 700 -71 -2.0 -0.3 -0.3 500 -87 -1.7 -0.7 -0.5 400 -98 -1.6 -1.0 -0.7 300 -107 -1.5 -1.5 -1.4 200 -140 -1.9 -3.3 -1.8 150 -181 -2.5 -3.6 -2.2 100 -230 -2.7 -3.7 -2.1 70 -271 -2.1 -3.6 -1.7 50 -318 -2.5 -3.4 -1.3 30 -403 -2.2 -2.9 -0.9 20 -498 -2.2 -2.1 -0.7 10 -458 -1.8 0.7 0.2 32
NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION
Table 1.22
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear
averages (favg) Novolazarevskaya, June 2010 Normalized Anomaly Relative Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg anomaly f/favg (f-favg)/Vf Sea level air pressure, hPa 982.0 994.5 971.9 -8.2 -1.9 Air temperature, 0C -18.7 -10.5 -29.2 -3.2 -1.4 Relative humidity, % 35 -16.4 -2.8 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 3.3 -2.3 -1.9 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 1.3 0.1 0.1 Precipitation, mm 10.4 -18.8 -0.5 0.4 Wind speed, m/s 8.2 25.0 -3.0 -1.3 Prevailing wind direction, deg 135 Total radiation, MJ/m2 Polar night Total ozone content (TO), DU - - - 33
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.14. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow coverage (F). Novolazarevskaya station, June 2010. 34
Table 1.23 Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages)
Novolazarevskaya, June 2010 Number of Isobaric Resultant Number of Isobaric Dew point Resultant Wind days surface Temperature, wind days surface, deficit, wind speed, stability without height, T 0C direction, without P hPa D 0C m/s parameter,% temperature H m deg wind data data
966 122 -18.5 12.3 925 445 -17.3 11.5 117 10 91 0 0 850 1074 -20.8 12.1 108 11 94 0 0 700 2487 -26.5 10.4 129 6 63 0 0 500 4853 -39.6 10.8 185 7 49 0 0 400 6346 -49.3 10.4 200 10 61 0 0 300 8178 -60.5 10.0 205 14 66 0 0 200 10648 -66.6 10.2 227 14 80 0 0 150 12379 -68.0 10.7 234 16 89 0 0 100 14786 -72.5 11.2 245 19 93 0 0 70 16853 -76.6 11.6 252 23 95 0 0 50 18769 -80.0 11.9 254 27 96 0 0 30 21616 -82.9 12.6 257 32 97 1 1 20 23867 -83.1 13.5 260 37 96 1 1 10 27689 -77.9 15.1 266 42 96 12 9
Table 1.24 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature
Novolazarevskaya, June 2010
P hPa ɇɇavg, m ɇ-Havg)/Vɇ ɌɌavg, qɋ ɌɌavg)/VɌ 850 -83 -2.2 -1.3 -0.8 700 -95 -2.3 -1.1 -0.7 500 -110 -2.2 -0.8 -0.5 400 -116 -2.0 -0.4 -0.2 300 -122 -1.8 0.0 0.0 200 -123 -1.7 0.4 0.2 150 -125 -1.7 0.0 0.0 100 -136 -1.6 -0.5 -0.3 70 -137 -1.4 -0.2 -0.1 50 -172 -1.5 -1.4 -0.6 30 -255 -1.7 -2.0 -0.8 20 -313 -1.7 -2.5 -0.9 10 -528 -0.8 -0.4 -0.6 35
BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION
Table 1.25
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg) Bellingshausen, June 2010 Normalized Anomaly Relative Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg anomaly f/favg (f-favg)/Vf Sea level air pressure, hPa 987.8 1011.9 961.3 -6.4 -1.0 Air temperature, 0C -2.3 5.0 -9.3 3.6 1.8 Relative humidity, % 90 2.8 0.8 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 9.4 0.8 1.3 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 7.0 -0.3 -0.3 Precipitation, mm 46.5 -3.8 -0.1 0.9 Wind speed, m/s 6.4 19.0 1.5 2.5 Prevailing wind direction, deg 158 Total radiation, MJ/m2 9.3 -3.7 -1.3 0.7 36
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.15. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F). Bellingshausen station. June 2010. 37
PROGRESS STATION
Table 1.26
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f)
Progress, June 2010 Parameter f fmax fmin Sea level air pressure, hPa 979.4 992.4 957.3 Air temperature, 0C -13.0 -2.8 -21.8 Relative humidity, % 61 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 8.0 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 3.1 Precipitation, mm 16.9 Wind speed, m/s 6.6 19.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 90 Total radiation, MJ/m2 8.6 38
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.16. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow coverage (F). Progress station. June 2010. 39
VOSTOK STATION Table 1.27 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear
averages (favg) Vostok, June 2010 Normalized Anomaly Relative Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg anomaly f/favg (f-favg)/Vf Ground level air pressure, hPa 617.5 631.4 607.6 -6.2 -1.3 Air temperature, qC -68.9 -49.0 -80.2 -3.9 -1.3 Relative humidity, % 57 -11.7 -2.7 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 3.3 0.4 0.4 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 0.0 0.0 0.0 Precipitation, mm 0.2 -2.8 -1.2 0.1 Wind speed, m/s 4.5 8.0 -1.2 -1.5 Prevailing wind direction, deg 248 Total radiation, MJ/m2 Polar night Total ozone content (TO), DU - - - 40
Ⱥ B
C D
E F
Fig. 1.17. Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, ground level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F). Vostok station. June 2010. 41
J U N E 2 0 0 9
AtmosphericAtmospheric pressure pressure at atsea sea level, level, hPa hPa (at Vostok (at Vostokstation station - ground - ground level level pressure) pressure)
982.1 985.5 998.4 985.5 1100 900 978.2 982.0 987.8 979.4621.8 1100900700 617.5 500700 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok Vostok
(f-favg)/Vf -2.0 -1.9 -1.0 -1.3
Air Airtemperature, temperature, °C °C
-14.4 -2.4 -13.0 0 -18.7 -20 -40 -4 -68.9 -60 -15.7 -14.1 -13.4 -80 -80 -64.2 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz BellingsBellings Progress Progress VostokVostok
(f-favg)/Vf 0.5 -1.4 1.8 -1.3
RelativeRelative humidity, humidity, % %
8077 86 90 100 61 56 57 4835 48 50 0 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress VostokVostok
(f-favg)/Vf 0.3 -2.8 0.8 -2.7
TotalTotal cloudiness, cloudiness, tenths tenths
8.3 9.39.4 8.0 10 7 6.3 7.1 8 3.3 3.3 56 0.8 24 0 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz BellingsBellings Progress Progress VostokVostok
(f-favg)/Vf 1.3 -1.9 1.3 0.4
Precipitation,Precipitation, mm mm 122.3 90.3 150100 100 31.5 2346.5 50 10.4 1016.9 4.1 0.2 0 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok Vostok
f/favg 1.7 0.4 0.9 0.1
MeanMean wind wind speed, speed, m/s m/s
15.5 20 15.515.2 11.411.4 8.2 6.56.46.5 9 6.69 10 4.6 4.54.6 0 MirnyMirny NovolazNovolaz BellingsBellings Progress Progress VostokVostok
(f-favg)/Vf 1.5 -1.3 2.5 -1.5
Fig.1.18. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations. June 2010. 42
2. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN APRIL-JUNE 2010
Fig. 2.1 characterizes the air temperature conditions in April-June 2010 at the Antarctic continent. It presents monthly averages of surface air temperature, their anomalies and normalized anomalies at the Russian and non-Russian meteorological stations. The actual data of the Russian Antarctic Expedition contained in /1/ were used for the Russian Antarctic stations and data contained in /2,3/ were used for the foreign stations. The multiyear averages for the period 1961-1990 were adopted from /4/. In April, as compared to March, there was an increase of the number of stations with the below zero air temperature anomalies. The below zero anomalies were observed practically at all coastal stations of East Antarctica and in its inland area. The largest anomaly was observed at Amundsen-Scott station (-5.2 °ɋ, -2.1 V). April 2010 at Amundsen-Scott station was the second coldest April for the entire observation period from 1957. In May, the below zero anomalies of air temperature were still preserved in the coastal part of East Antarctica, but the anomalous values themselves were less than 1 V. In the inland part and on the Antarctic Peninsula, the anomalies of air temperature were above zero. The core of the area of above zero anomalies was near Amundsen-Scott station (4.1 °ɋ, 1.7V). In June, the anomalies of mean monthly air temperature at most Antarctic stations were also small (less than 1 V). The cold areas were located in the inland part of Antarctica (with a center near Vostok station), and in the coastal part of the Queen Maud Land (with a center near Novolazarevskaya station). The anomalies of air temperature at Vostok and at Novolazarevskaya stations comprised -3.9 °ɋ (-1.3 V) and -3.2 °ɋ (-1.4 V), respectively. In the area of the Antarctic Peninsula in June , the above zero anomalies of air temperature were preserved. The largest positive anomaly was observed at Bellingshausen station (3.5 °ɋ, 1.8 V). June 2010 was the fourth warmest June here. An assessment of long-period changes in mean monthly air temperature in these months manifests a positive trend of air temperature almost at all Russian stations. A negative sign of the trend of mean monthly air temperature is noted only at Novolazarevskaya station for May. However its value is not statistically significant. For the months of the second quarter of 2010, the statistically significant trend is present only at Bellingshausen station (Figs.2.2-2.4). The increase of air temperature for May at Bellingshausen station was about 2.7°ɋ/43 years (Table 2.1). The atmospheric pressure at the Russian stations durig the months under consideration was characterized by the negative deviations from a multiyear average. The largest air pressure anomalies were observed in June at Novolazarevskaya station (-8.2 hPa, -1.9 V) and Mirny station (-11.1 hPa, -2.0 V). Such low pressure in June at Novolazarevskaya station was the third for the observation period from 1961, and at Mirny station – the lowest for the period from 1957. The interannual variations of atmospheric pressure at the Russian stations are characterized by a negative trend: at Mirny, Novolazarevskaya and Bellingshausen stations for all months and at Vostok station – for April-May (Figs. 2.2-2.4). The statistically significant trend is revealed at Mirny station for all months and at Novolazarevskaya station – for June. At Mirny station, the atmospheric pressure has decreased most of all for May – by 6.2 hPa/54 years. At Novolazarevskaya station, the value of the linear trend in June was -4.1 hPa/50 years. The amount of precipitation in April-June at the Russian stations was predominantly lower than a multiyear average. And only at Bellingshausen station in April-May and at Mirny station in June, an excess of the monthly multiyear average of precipitation by 30%, 20% and 30%, respectively, was noted. 43
Table 2.1
Linear trend parameters of mean monthly surface air temperature
Station, Parameter IV V VI IV V VI operation period Entire observation period 2001-2010 Novolazarevskaya ɋ/10 years 0.16 -0.10 0.21 -1.41 -2.27 -2.30 1961-2010 % 12.8 6.9 12.6 23.9 28.3 27.3 Ɋ ------Mirny ɋ/10 years 0.02 0.02 0.27 -2.29 -0.51 0.98 1957-2010 % 1.1 1.2 20.0 33.1 4.9 24.5 Ɋ ------Vostok ɋ/10 years 0.02 0.11 0.01 -4.68 -2.17 0.24 1958-2010 % 1.0 5.9 4.4 59.0 21.6 2.1 Ɋ - - - 90 - - Bellingshausen ɋ/10 years 0.17 0.63 0.42 -0.93 0.55 2.98 1968-2010 % 15.5 38.0 24.1 24.4 11.3 39.1 Ɋ - 99 - - - -
First line: linear trend coefficient; Second line: dispersion value explained by the linear trend; Third line: Ɋ=1–D, where D is a significance level (given if Ɋ exceeds 90 %).
References:
1. http://www.south.aari.nw.ru 2. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/climate/climatedata.html 3. http://www.nerc-bas.ac.uk/public/icd/metlog/jones_and_limbert.html 4. Atlas of the Oceans. The Southern Ocean. GUNiO MD RF. St. Petersburg 2005. 44
Fig. 2.1. Mean monthly values of surface air temperature (1), their anomalies (2) and normalized anomalies (3) in April (IV), May (V) and June (VI) 2010 from data of meteorological stations in the South polar area. 45
Fig. 2.2. Interannual variations of temperature and atmospheric pressure anomalies at the Russian Antarctic stations. April. 46
Fig. 2.3. Interannual variations of temperature and atmospheric pressure anomalies at the Russian Antarctic stations. May. 47
Fig. 2.4. Interannual variations of temperature and atmospheric pressure anomalies at the Russian Antarctic stations. June. 48
3. REVIEW OF THE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES OVER THE ANTARCTIC IN APRIL- JUNE 2010
In April, the peculiarity of the atmospheric circulation over temperate and high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere was in a slight shift by longitude of the “leading” high pressure ridges, as compared with climatic picture /2/, resulting in redistribution of the geographic location of the main meridional trajectories of cyclones. This has influenced the frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms of the Southern Hemisphere and their anomalies (Table 3.1). The frequency of occurrence of zonal processes was close to a multiyear average. The most active branch of the cyclonic trajectories was the East Pacific Ocean branch. Such development of the atmospheric processes was also reflected in the structure of mean monthly thermal baric fields. Over most of the Antarctic regions, negative anomalies of atmospheric pressure were noted (this being connected with dominance of the high-latitudinal variety of the zonal circulation form). They have exceeded the multiyear average by 1-2 hPa /1/ over the central Indian Ocean sector, which is typical of the active development of the circulation form Ɇb. The below zero air temperature anomalies prevailed over most of the regions of Antarctica, including the inland regions. At the South Pole, for example, the negative anomaly comprised -5Ûɋ /1/. The above zero anomalies of air temperature were noted over the coast of the Ross and Weddell Seas and also over the Drake Passage.
Table 3.1
Frequency of occurrence of the forms of atmospheric circulation in the southern hemisphere and their anomalies (days) in April-June 2010
Months Frequency of occurrence Anomalies Z Ma Mb Z Ma Mb April 13 6 11 1 -4 3 May 12 11 8 3 -3 0 June 7 11 12 0 -4 4
In May, zonal circulation was predominant (Table 3.1), which continued to preserve the high-latitudinal character, resulting in the formation of a circumpolar area of the negative air pressure anomalies over the Antarctic. The Kerguelen and the East Pacific branches of the meridional cyclonic trajectories turned out to be more developed. Such distribution of intensity of the meridional outflows of relatively warm air resulted in the formation of a small area of the above zero anomalies of air temperature in the area of Prydz Bay and a sufficiently extensive area of the above zero anomalies of air temperature almost over the entire West Antarctica. At the periodic outflow of warm air inland, the above zero anomalies of air temperature were also observed at the Antarctic Plateau (from data of Amundsen-Scott and Vostok stations). In June, similar to April, at the normal development of zonality, there was a displacement of localization of the ridges of subtropical anticyclones relative to their mean multiyear location. The frequency of occurrence of the circulation form Ɇɚ was decreased and the activity of the form Ɇb was increased (Table 3.1). At the close to a multiyear average frequency of occurrence of zonal circulation its high-latitudinal character was preserved. This has determined the formation of significant (up to -10, -15 hPa) negative anomalies of atmospheric pressure over the entire Antarctic region. The distribution of air temperature anomalies was connected with mixing of the meridional air transports. In the coastal regions of Antarctica over the East Atlantic and African sectors, the below zero anomalies of air temperature were observed and over the Australian sector and the coast of west Antarctica – the above zero anomalies. Over the inland region, the below zero anomalies of air temperature were recorded, its values comprising -3 to -4Ûɋ. References:
1. http://www.nerc-bas.ac.uk/public/icd/metlog/jones_and_limbert.html 2. http://www.bom.gov.au/nmoc 49
4. BRIEF REVIEW OF ICE PROCESSES IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN FROM DATA OF SATELLITE AND COASTAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN APRIL-JUNE 2010
Throughout the entire autumn period the character of the distribution of sea ice extent formed in the Southern Ocean by the end of summer of 2010, remained unchanged. An anomalously increased in size ice massif in the Weddell Sea was observed simultaneously with an extremely narrow ice belt in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean massif in the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas and in the area of Russkaya station. The sources of intense ice formation were traditionally the high-latitudinal bends of the Weddell and Ross Seas and Prydz Bay, from where ice was transported to the adjoining areas by constant currents. In April, the expansion of the ice belt was much slower. The largest ice edge displacement was noted in the Weddell Sea, in the north of which it reached the South Orkneys Islands (61º S) and in the west, it spread to 10º W. In the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean sector, the ice edge was stabilized near 70º S and in the Ross, Somov and D’Urville Seas – near the 65th parallel. In the Commonwealth and Davis Seas, the ice edge advanced northward up to 63º S. Here near the coast of Prydz Bay in the vicinity of Progress station and Treshnikov Bay in the area of Mirny station, final establishment of landfast ice took place in late March (see Table 4.1). After that the growth of landfast ice in these regions strongly differed by intensity (Table 4.2), exceeding the multiyear average by 10-20 cm near Mirny, whereas near Progress station, the landfast ice thickness was less than usually by 30-40 cm. In May – June, there was a stepwise repeated swift expansion of the ice cover. In the area of the Weddell Gyre in the Atlantic sector (60º W – 20º E), the ice edge has everywhere advanced to the 60th parallel, similar to the adjoining areas of the Commonwealth and Davis Seas. In the Pacific Ocean sector, the ice edge reached only 65º S. Absolutely ice-free remained the area near the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, where in the vicinity of the South Shetland Islands (from data of Bellingshausen station) the first ice formation occurred later compared to mean multiyear dates – only at the beginning of July (Table 4.1). So, the summer background ice extent in the Southern Ocean that earlier corresponded to the multiyear average, was replaced already in May by the increased ice extent (Fig.4.1), in spite of the close to minimum size of the ice belt in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean sector.
Table 4.1 Dates of the main ice phases in the areas of Russian Antarctic stations in the first part of 2010
Station Ice formation Landfast ice formation Freeze up (water body) First Stable First Stable First Final Mirny Actual 10.03 10.03 26.03 26.03 14.04 14.04 (roadstead) Multiyear avg 11.03 12.03 30.03 02.04 14.04 17.04 Progress Actual 03.02 20.02 29.03 29.03 04.04 04.04 (Vostochnaya Bay) Multiyear avg 16.02 17.02 06.03 08.03 26.03 26.03 Bellingshausen Actual 04.07 no2 04.07 no no no (Ardley Bay) Multiyear avg1 12.05 06.06 09.06 17.06 30.06 05.07 1 – the multiyear averages for the onset of ice phases for Bellingshausen station were updated for the period 1968–2008 2 – no – the phenomenon was absent, did not occur Table 4.2
Landfast ice thickness and snow depth (cm) in the areas of Russian Antarctic stations in April – June 2010
M o n t h s Station Characteristics IV V VI Ice Actual 67 77 94 Mirny Multiyear avg 46 67 84 Snow 07 11 12 Ice 41 53 88 Progress Snow 25 10 11 50
Fig.4.1. Average location of the external northern sea ice edge in the Southern Ocean in May 2010 (1) relative to the maximum (2), average (3) and minimum (4) spreading of the ice cover for the period 1971 – 2005. 51
5. RESULTS OF TOTAL OZONE MEASUREMENTS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2010
Regular measurements of total ozone in the second quarter of 2010 were carried out only at two stations – until 28 April at Novolazarevskaya station, and until 13 May at Mirny station, then the observations were suspended due to the low Sun’s height. The TO measurements from board the R/V “Akademik Fedorov” at the time of the ship stay in the Antarctic waters (south to 55° S) continued until 12 April.
400 400
350 350
300 300
250 250
200 200
150 1 150
Total ozone (DU) Total 2 100 100 3 50 50
0 0 01.04.10 12.04.10 23.04.10 04.05.10 15.05.10
Date
Fig. 5.1. Mean daily values of total ozone at Mirny (1) and Novolazarevskaya (2) stations and from measurements onboard the R/V “Akademik Fedorov” (3) in the second quarter of 2010.
The mean daily total ozone values from data of these measurements are given in Fig.5.1. Since in describing the spring negative TO anomaly it is accepted to consider that the “ozone hole” phenomenon is registered if the TO values become lower than 220 DU, and a dashed line in the figures corresponds to this value. The lowest TO value for the period under consideration at Novolazarevskaya station was observed on 25 April (207 DU), at Mirny station (265 DU) and in the measurements onboard the ship (275 DU) – on 5 April. In April, the mean monthly TO value at Novolazarevskaya station was the same as in 2009 (265 DU), and at Mirny station (308 DU), it was the highest for the last five years [1]. In the first part of May (the observations are available only for this period), the total ozone at Mirny station was higher than in 2009 much of the year.
References:
1. Quarterly Bulletin “State of Antarctic Environment. April-June 2009. Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations”, SI AARI, Russian Antarctic Expedition, 2009, No. 2, p.51. 52
6. GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATIONS AT RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN APRIL – JUNE 2010
In the second quarter of 2010, the geomagnetic observations were carried out at Vostok, Novolazarevskaya, Progress and Mirny stations. Due to performing preventive work and adjustment of declinometer, the absolute measurements at Vostok station in April and May are absent. At Vostok, Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations, continuous registration of the space radio-emission level was performed at the frequencies of 32 MHz (Vostok, Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations), 24 MHz (Vostok station) and 40 MHz (Mirny station). At Mirny station, vertical sounding of the ionosphere is carried out under the standard program using a digital ionosonde. As mean monthly values of the geomagnetic field components, their mean values from 5 y 6 measurements made during the month are given at a small degree of disturbance of the magnetic field. The critical frequencies of the F2 layer reflect the degree of disturbance of the upper layer of the ionosphere and can be characterized for the given period of 2010 as follows: April – the state of the ionosphere is non-disturbed, corresponding to moderate solar activity, a slight decrease of the values of critical frequencies was noted by the end of the month; May - the state of the ionosphere is non-disturbed, corresponding to moderate solar activity; uniform distribution of the level of critical frequencies; June - the state of the ionosphere is non-disturbed, corresponding to moderate solar activity; uniform distribution of the level of critical frequencies. Data of riometers are used for assessing the state of the lower ionosphere. These instruments work at Vostok, Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations. The Earth’s magnetic field forms at its surface several zones of intrusions of the fluxes of charged particles. The flux parameters in these zones differ significantly. The geomagnetic poles (north and south) are situated at the center of the zones, which are called the polar caps. The Vostok station is always in the south polar cap and Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations are almost always in the zone of polar lights. That is why the character of perturbation of the lower ionosphere at Vostok station differs from the character of perturbation at Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations. During the whole period the lower ionosphere was relatively quiet. The largest perturbations at the stations in the zone of polar lights were observed from 3 to 9 April. At this time the maximum absorption at the frequency of 32 MHz at Novolazarevskaya station comprised 6 dB and at Mirny - 1.8 dB. A significant increase of absorption at both stations was also observed on 22 – 23 April. One should note an increase of absorption at these two stations from 1 to 6, 28 to 31 May, and also on 2 – 3, 16 – 17 and 28 – 30 June. The indicated perturbations in the lower ionosphere probably refer to the absorption of the type of “polar lights” (PLA) and are caused by insignificant intrusions of electrons with energy of more than 30 keV. At Vostok station, the maximum daily intrusion was 0.5 dB during the period 1 to 10 April. It is likely that at this time there was a weak phenomenon of the type of “polar cap absorption” (PCA), caused by intrusion of highly energetic solar protons. During the rest of the time the lower ionosphere at Vostok station was quiet. 53
CURRENT OBSERVATION
MIRNY STATION
Mean monthly absolute geomagnetic field values
Horizontal Vertical Declination component component April 87º44.4´W 13746 nT -57506 nT May 87º45.1´W 13769 nT -57494 nT June 87º46.2´W 13752 nT -57508 nT
Main variometer reference values
Date D, degrees H, nT Z, nT 02/04/2010 -87.059 13910 -57631 11/04/2010 -87.097 13920 -57619 14/04/2010 -87.043 13922 -57624 21/04/2010 -87.072 13925 -57623 27/04/2010 -87.062 13927 -57623 08/05/2010 -87.081 13887 -57620 12/05/2010 -87.017 14003 -57595 16/05/2010 -87.058 13902 -57617 21/05/2010 -87.042 13902 -57616 26/05/2010 -87.058 13903 -57620 02/06/2010 87.014 13912 -57623 06/06/2010 87.051 13910 -57625 11/06/2010 87.048 13906 -57624 17/06/2010 87.014 13911 -57624 22/06/2010 87.014 13910 -57622 28/06/2010 87.014 13912 -57623 54
Mirny, April 2010
4
3 dB 2 max, A
1
0 1 3 579 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Mirny, May 2010
4
3 , dB 2 max A
1
0 13579 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Mirny, June 2010
4
3 , dB 2 max A
1
0 13579 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Fig. 6.1. Maximum daily space radio-emission absorption at the 32 MHz frequency from riometer observations at Mirny station. 55
Mirny, April 2010
10
8
6 00UT 12UT 4 f0F2, MHz
2
0 13579 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Mirny, May 2010
10
8
6 00UT 12UT 4 f0F2, MHz
2
0 1 3579 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Mirny, June 2010
10
8
6 00UT 12UT 4 f0F2, MHz
2
0 13579 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Fig. 6.2. Daily variations of critical frequencies of the F2 (f0F2) layer at Mirny station. 56
NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION
Mean monthly absolute geomagnetic field values
Horizontal Vertical Declination component component April 28º52.3´W 18515 nT -34712 nT May 28º59.6´W 18512 nT -34708 nT June 29º00.9´W 18512 nT -34708 nT
Main variometer reference values
Date D, degrees H, nT Z, nT 10/04/2010 -29.1092 18492 -34827 13.04/2010 -29.0957 18491 -34826 18.04/2010 -29.1105 18492 -34827 22.04/2010 -29.1065 18486 -34831 23.04/2010 -29.1067 18488 -34829 25.04/2010 -29.1003 18488 -34827 29.04/2010 -29.1023 18483 -34832 10/05/2010 -29.0960 18482 -34833 14/05/2010 -29.0852 18480 -34835 16/05/2010 -29.0673 18474 -34835 17/05/2010 -29.0873 18481 -34832 21/05/2010 -29.0945 18480 -34833 25/05/2010 -29.0913 18468 -34837 05/06/2010 -29.0247 18515 -34712 06/06/2010 -29.0250 18514 -34710 12/06/2010 -29.0225 18512 -34706 21/06/2010 -29.0220 18515 -34712 22/06/2010 -29.0062 18512 -34706 57
Novolazarevskaya, April 2010
6
4.5 dB 3 max, A
1.5
0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Novolazarevskaya, May 2010
6
4.5 , dB 3 max A
1.5
0 13579 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Novolazarevskaya, June 2010
6
4.5 , dB 3 max A
1.5
0 13579 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Fig. 6.3. Maximum daily space radio-emission absorption at the 32 MHz frequency from riometer observations at Novolazarevskaya station. 58
PROGRESS STATION
Mean monthly absolute geomagnetic field values
Horizontal Vertical Declination component component April 74º16.1´W 16733 nT -50540 nT May 74º18.9´W 18512 nT -34708 nT June 74º18.8´W 18512 nT -34708 nT
Variometer reference values
Date D, H, nT Z, nT degrees 09/04/2010 -73.6142 126 -100 10/04/2010 -73.6253 125 -100 14/04/2010 -73.6225 127 -100 17/04/2010 -73.6267 128 -100 24/04/2010 -73.6356 127 -100 28/04/2010 -73.6419 127 -99 06/05/2010 -73.6292 126 -102 08/05/2010 -73.6214 126 -100 09/05/2010 -73.6281 128 -100 13/05/2010 -73.6472 128 -101 14/05/2010 -73.6475 128 -101 20/05/2010 -73.6639 128 -100 22/05/2010 -73.6564 129 -100 26/05/2010 -73.6572 127 -101 05/06/2010 -73.6625 126 -101 08/06/2010 -73.6639 127 -101 09/06/2010 -73.6364 126 -101 12/06/2010 -73.6414 127 -101 19/06/2010 -73.6383 127 -102 21/06/2010 -73.6328 126 -100 59
VOSTOK STATION
Mean monthly absolute geomagnetic field values
Horizontal Vertical Declination component component April * * * May * * * June 122º33.9´W 13557 nT -57879 nT
* Data were not reported, due to technical failure of the reporting device.
Main variometer reference values
Date D, H, nT Z, nT degrees 14/06/2010 -122.5586 13553 -57875 18/06/2010 -122.5633 13558 -57883 22/06/2010 -122.5717 13560 -57880 60
Vostok, April 2010
4
3 , dB 2 max A
1
0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Vostok, May 2010
4
3 , dB 2 max A
1
0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Vostok, June 2010
4
3 , dB 2 max A
1
0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Fig. 6.4. Maximum daily space radio-emission absorption at the 32 MHz frequency from riometer observations at Vostok station. 61
7. XXXIII ANTARCTIC TREATY CONSULTATIVE MEETING
The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) is the highest body of the Antarctic Treaty and its 50th anniversary was celebrated on 1 December 2009 in Washington, D.C. (the USA). Beginning from 1994, the ATCM is annually held in the countries – Consultative Parties to the Treaty by the alphabetical order of the names of these countries in Latin transcription. The next XXXIII ATCM was held in Punta-del-Este, Uruguay from 2 to 14 May 2010. The Delegation of the Russian Federation at this meeting consisted of 6 people representing the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Russia (3 people), Roshydromet (2 people) and Rosnedra (1 person). The Head of the Delegation was Mr. V. Yu. Titushkin, Deputy Director of the Legal Department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Russia. Roshydromet was represented by Mr. V. V. Lukin, AARI Deputy Director and RAE Head and Mr. Pomelov V. N., RAE lead ecologist. Mr. V. N. Masolov, Head of the Antarctic Group of PMGRE represented Rosnedra. The Delegations of 28 Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty - Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Germany, India, Spain, Italy, China, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Russia, the United States of America, Ukraine, Uruguay, Finland, France, Chile, Sweden, Ecuador, South Africa and Japan and 4 delegations of the Non-Consultative Parties – Canada, the Czech Republic, the Principality of Monaco and Romania took part in the Meeting . The Delegation of Malaysia was invited by ATCM XXXII as observer. Besides the representatives of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) and Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) participated in the Meeting as observers. As experts, the representatives of the Secretariat of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Tourism Organization (WTO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) were invited. The Meeting was officially opened on 3 May 2010. On behalf of the Host Government, Mr. Albert Lluberas proposed the candidacy of the distinguished Dr. Roberto Puceiro Ripoll as Chair of ATCM XXXIII. The proposal was accepted. The President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Mr. José Mujica, addressed a warm welcome to participants of the Meeting. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Argentina, Jorge Taiana and Dr. Roberto Puceiro Ripoll, Chair of ATCM XXXIII, signed the Headquarters Agreement for the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty in Buenos- Aires, Argentina. The Foreign Minister welcomed the confidence expressed by the Treaty Parties in deciding to base its Secretariat in Argentina. As reported by the United States, the Depositary Government of the Antarctic Treaty, during the period after the XXXII ATCM Portugal had acceded to the Treaty, becoming the 20th Non-Consultative Treaty Party, and Monaco had ratified the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. The work of XXXIII ATCM was in the regime of plenary sessions and sessions of the working groups. During the first week the Meeting discussed the agenda items referring to the topics of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) and the Working Group on Legal and Institutional Affairs. During the next week the Meeting discussed the issues referring to the topics of the Working Group on Operational Matters and the Working Group on Tourism and Non-governmental Activities. The delegates were presented for discussion with 70 Working papers, 130 Information papers and 12 documents of the Secretariat. The largest number of documents were presented at CEP under the item “Area Protection and Management” (58) and under the ATCM agenda items “Tourism and Non-Governmental Activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area” (34) and “Science Issues, Including Climate-related Research, Scientific Cooperation and Facilitation” (30). The largest activity in preparation of the documents was shown by the USA – 21 papers, Great Britain – 20 papers, Australia and Argentina – 17 papers each. The Russian Federation presented 7 papers (3 Working and 4 Information) under different agenda items. As a result of the work of the Meeting, 15 Measures (all on Annex 5 “Area Protection and Management”), 5 decisions and 7 resolutions were adopted. The main focus of discussion in the Working group on Operational Issues and also at CEP sessions was the Report released by SCAR in December 2009 on “Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment (ACCE)”. This document does not wholly reflect the actual situation with understanding these processes on a global scale. The point is that the authors’ team of the Report was mainly represented by specialists from Great Britain, who expressed their own standpoint on this issue on behalf of the international organization. The working paper presented by Russia “Current tendencies of climatic changes based on data of Russian studies in the Antarctic” points out some comments on the report, including the comment about a lack of information on the results of Russian studies of modern climatic variability in the Antarctic. The conclusions of Russian specialists do not always coincide with the results of the analysis of the authors of the Report. Russia proposed to employ a widely-used methodology by the Arctic Council for developing such international documents, in particular, the AMAP Report. After the first variant of the Report is 62 prepared, it is sent for the national expert examination to the members of the Council, who have the right to introduce their changes and additions in order to create a document, which objectively assesses common or different viewpoints. The proposal of Russia was actively supported by Spanish-speaking countries, especially by Argentina. The Delegation of China has officially expressed its appreciation to RAE for rendering medical assistance by Russian doctors from Progress station to a specialist from Zhong Shan station and for rescuing the Chinese oceanographers at high sea by means of the Russian helicopter MI-8, which was at Progress station. When discussing the operational issues of the activity of the Antarctic Treaty System, Russia has submitted three information papers: x “Results of Russian studies of subglacial Lake Vostok in the season 2009/2010”, item 13 of the Agenda of XXXIII ATCM. x “Russian research in the Antarctic in 2009”, item 13 of the Agenda of XXXIII ATCM. x “Training and Education Center at Bellingshausen station”, item 15 of the Agenda of XXXIII ATCM. The discussion of the Working Group on Tourism and Non-Governmental Activity was mainly focused on the outcomes of the Meeting of Experts on the management of shipborne tourism in the Antarctic Treaty Area, which was held in December 2009 (Wellington, New Zealand). As a result of the discussion, the Chairman of XXXIII ATCM prepared an address to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with a request to produce normative documents regulating shipping safety in the Antarctic waters and decrease of the risks of its environmental impact. The IMO representative, who attended the XXXIII ATCM session, informed that the IMO was now in the active phase of developing the Polar Code of Shipping, which will formulate the technical and environmental requirements to ships operating in the Arctic and the Antarctic. In particular, the prohibition to use the heavy grade oil (IFO fuel oil) as ship fuel will include the Antarctic region coming into force in the Antarctic from March 1, 2011. When the issue of expanding the non-governmental activity in the Antarctic was discussed, the issue of the activity of the TAC tourist company (South Africa) was also raised in the framework of the international aviation DROMLAN Program. This aspect was in the focus of attention of the Norwegian delegation, which presented its report on the inspection of the aerodrome base at Novolazarevskaya station. Russia presented the working paper “Queen Maud Land – a new center of non-governmental activity in the Antarctic”, where the structure of the DROMLAN Program and its implementation in the framework of tourist operations and non-governmental activity supported by TAC Company was considered in detail. Special attention was given to the facts of availability of the formal permits of individuals and legal entities of Norway and Great Britain for the activity in the Antarctic in the area of Queen Maud Land. The National Antarctic Programs of these countries officially prohibit the non-governmental activities from their stations in the given area. This approach creates conditions for the development of double standards in solving this complicated issue. It should be noted that Norway on the one hand, criticizes Russia for providing logistical support to the non-governmental activity, and on the other hand, it grants permits to its citizens for implementing such activity in the area of the Russian station. The RAE was repeatedly raising this matter at the sessions of the steering group of the DROMLAN Program, but each time Norway was protesting against discussing this problem considering that it concerns only the RAE and the air operator of the Program – the ALCI Company (RSA). In our document we pay attention to the fact that this situation is determined in many aspects by the complete absence of normative-legal documents for permitting the activity in the Antarctic at the government of the RSA. The delegation of this country officially declared about completing preparation of these documents and their adoption at the parliament of RSA in the near future. At 13 CEP session, Russia presented for discussion by the participants the working paper “Answers to comments on CEE for Water Sampling of the Subglacial Lake Vostok”. Beginning from 2001, a number of states and non-governmental organizations on different often far-fetched pretexts of nature protection character attempted to prevent the implementation of this Project, one the reasons being the fact that Russia in this sphere has an obvious scientific and technological priority. At the present session of SEP, Russia presented detailed explanations and answered all critical comments, made in the previous years. So the procedural requirements of the Antarctic Treaty System were fully met and there are no formal grounds for “delaying” this project. The final Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation for this Project will be prepared in summer 2010 and submitted to the Commission for Applications for Activity of Russian Individuals and Legal Entities in the Antarctic and Issuance of Expert Conclusions. The beginning of activity for penetrating Lake Vostok is planned for the summer Antarctic season 2010-2011. Participants of CEP session approved the activity of Great Britain in connection with declaring in November 2009 the water area adjoining the Orkneys Islands as the Marine Protected Area (MPA) in compliance with the procedures adopted in CCAMLR. Italy declared about the beginning of developing a similar plan of MPA management in the area of Terra Nova Bay. This declaration may cause a serious tension between Italy and South Korea, as the latter declared its pans of opening a new station on the coast of this Bay. One of the main activities of this station and the new expedition vessel of South Korea the “Araon will be in the area of Terra Nova Bay. So the declaration of MPA status for this area from the side of Italy will practically close the possibility of conducting such studies for South Korea. Chairman of CEP, Dr. Neil Gilbert (New Zealand), elected to this position in 2006 at 9 CEP resigned its commission according to the procedure of the Committee. Yves Frenot was elected the CEP Chair and Mr. Ewan McIvor was reelected as vice-chairman for the second term). On the concluding day of XXXIII ATCM during the plenary session, the ATCM Report, Measures, Decisions and Resolution were adopted and the List of invited persons and the Draft Agenda of XXXIV ATCM were agreed on. The next ATCM will be held: 63
- XXXIV ATCM – in Argentina, 20 June – 1 July 2011; - XXXV ATCM – in Australia, 2012; - XXXVI ATCM – in Belgium, 2013. An important event of ATCM was the exhibition devoted to the 190th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica by the Russian seafarers F. F. Bellingshausen and M. P. Lazarev, organized by the Russian Antarctic Expedition with the assistance and support of the Russian Embassy in Uruguay. The display allowed acquainting the ATCM participants with the pages of the discovery of the sixth continent and the Russian contribution to this, unknown before to most of them. 64 8. SORTED CIRCLES ON FILDES PENINSULA (KING-GEORGE ISLAND)
A continuous development of sorted circles was noted on King-George Island (the South Shetland Islands) /1, 2/. Here, the following cryogenic forms are typical: stone polygons and circles, solifluction forms, heaving-row relief, etc. For the Barton Peninsula of King-George Island a study of the sorted circles was made /6/. It turned out that the diameter of the sorted circles is directly connected with their age and can be used for determining the time of the clearance of the territory from ice. In the same work /6/ the author states that the sorted circles on the Fildes Peninsula are rare and their number is much less than on the Barton Peninsula, and presents only single examples of the findings. During the period of the field season of the 55th RAE, the territory of the Fildes Peninsula was investigated in order to reveal the areas of spreading of sorted circles. In the traverse studies, which covered most of the Fildes Peninsula, using the GPS navigator, places of finding of sorted circles and rounded pebbles were registered and within the groups of circles, their maximum diameters were also measured. Ax a result of the survey of the Fildes Peninsula, more than 50 groups of sorted circles were revealed (Fig.8.1), each of them numbering between single to several tens of the forms. The sorted circles were located on the leveled parts of the terraces and on flat summits of uplands. It turned out that the measured sorted circles at the Fildes Peninsula are divided into two isolated groups by height (Fig.8.2). The first group includes sorted circles with a diameter of 110 to 260 cm (an average diameter is 182 cm), and the second group – with a diameter of 110 to 200 cm (an average diameter is 156 cm). The circles of the first group were located at the heights of 40 to 88 m (on average, 55 m), the circles of the second group – at the heights of 98 to 134 m (on average, 118 m). The first group of sorted circles was predominantly confined to the coastal plain, which was in the past occupied by the sea /4/, or to the foots of uplands, and the second – to the level top parts of the mountain massifs of the peninsula.
Fig.8.1. Places of findings of sorted circles (1) and rounded pebble and boulders (2) on the Fildes Peninsula, King- George Island (Waterloo), South Shetland Islands. The map is constructed in the UTM coordinate system (zone 21).
According to /6/, the sorted circles on King-George Island could appear only in those territories, which have become ice-free. It was determined on their basis that the Barton Peninsula became ice-free around 4 kyr BP. Based on these data and data on the maximum diameter of the circles, it can be said that the Fildes Peninsula 65 became fully free of glaciers (tops of mountain massifs) and from the sea (at the high plain) almost simultaneously about 2300 – 2900 yr BP. Probably approximately at this time there also was a decrease in the size of the ice dome of the Bellingshausen station, which was at that time much less than at present. This is evidenced by the findings of marine (mollusk shells, bones of marine mammals) and continental (moss) deposits in the moraine girding the ice dome almost over the entire perimeter. It is supposed that the moraine was brought forward from beneath the ice dome edge along the thrusts. In geology, a “thrust” is a fracture disturbance in mountain rock bedding, at which some masses of mountain rocks are thrust over the other along the gentle fault surface. The thrust surface becomes flattened, and upwards on the contrary it becomes steeper, which is connected with the decreased plasticity of the layers in this direction /3/.
Fig.8.2. Relation of the maximum diameter of sorted stone circles with a height of locality above sea level (asl) at the Fildes Peninsula of King-George Island (measured in March-April 2010). The lower group of circles is shown by the green color and the upper – by the black color. Red-colored circles show average values in the groups.
Study of spreading of rounded pebble in the territory of the Fildes Peninsula indicates that the sea level in the past was rising to a height of more than 60 m above the current sea level. It can be assumed that the sea level could restrict the height distribution of glaciers on the peninsula during the last millennia. Findings of hatching of mountain rocks along the periphery of the ice dome show that comparatively recently the ice dome was greater in size than now. This is probably a result of the Little Ice Age as can be assumed from data in /5/. For more detailed paleo-glaciological reconstructions at the Fildes Peninsula, it is necessary to carry out additional special paleo-geomorphologic studies.
References:
1. Vtyurin B.I., Moskalevsky Ɇ.Yu. Kryogenic relief of King-George Island, South Shetland Islands. – Geomorphology, No. 1, 1985, p. 77-82. 2. Zamoruyev V.V. Relief and current relief-forming processes of the Fildes Peninsula (King-George Island, South Shetland Islands). – Proc. Of SAE, 1972, v. 55, p. 110-134. 3. Geological glossary. Ɇ.: Nedra, v. 1, 2, 1973. 4. Bassett S.E., Milne G.A., Bentley M.J., Huybrechts P. Modelling Antarctic sea-level data to explore the possibility of a dominant Antarctic contribution to meltwater pulse IA. – Quaternary Science Reviews, 26, 2007, 2113–2127. 5. Hall B.L. Late-Holocene advance of the Collins Ice Cap, King George Island, South Shetland Islands. – The Holocene, v. 17, 2007, p. 1253-1258. 6. Jeong G.Y. Radiocarbon ages of sorted circles on King George Island, South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica. - Antarctic Science, 18 (2), 2006, 265–270. 66
9. MAIN RAE EVENTS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2010
01 – 02. 04 The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” completed all planned operations in the area of Progress station and the seasonal Druzhnaya-4 field base. Partial rotation of the wintering team and resupply of the station were carried out and the seasonal personnel were delivered.
02. 04 The Druzhnaya-4 Base was temporarily closed until the next season. The automatic weather station continues operating.
05 – 06. 04 The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” carried out planned operations in the vicinity of Mirny station. Rotation of the wintering team of the expedition and seasonal activities were completed.
06. 04 All operations of the 55th seasonal expedition in Antarctica were finished. The teams of the 54th wintering and the 55th seasonal RAE returned onboard the R/V “Akademik Fedorov” from the Antarctic. In Antarctica at five Russian stations, the wintering team of the 55th expedition numbering 110 people and 14 attached builders continuing work at Progress station remained.
14. 04 The airbase at Novolazarevskaya station was temporarily closed for the winter period.
17. 04 In connection with decreased numbers of personnel at Mirny station, the building of the former background monitoring station was temporarily closed.
19 – 23. 04 Arrival of the R/V “Akademik Fedorov” to port Capetown from where 23 people of the seasonal team of the expedition that were onboard the ship departed by air for Moscow and 40 people to St. Petersburg.
01 – 15. 05 The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Punta-del-Este (Uruguay). The Russian Delegation also included V.V. Lukin, RAE Head, V. N. Pomelov, RAE main ecologist and V. N. Masolov, Head of the Antarctic Team of PMGRE.
07. 05 At Vostok station, all work for replacement of the carrying cable in the deep borehole 5G2 was finished, which will allow RAE to continue next season the work for completing drilling and begin penetration to the subglacial lake.
08. 05 At Novolazarevskaya station, all construction and installation activities for building the astronomical pavilion were completed. The research program on investigation of the optical characteristics of both the mesospheric clouds and polar lights was started. Work on assembling a new airfield complex, an office-living complex at the barrier and a satellite wide band receiving station GLONASS was started. Repair work of the magnetic laboratory building at the old station also began.
09. 05 In the area of the field camp of Progress station-5 on the shore of Tala Bay, a station of permanent hydrological observations was constructed and began operation.
12 – 16. 05 Arrival of the R/V “Akademik Fedorov” to port Bremerhafen (Germany). Two helicopters R-32ɋ of the Vladivostok air enterprise “Avialift”, which participated in the work of the 55th RAE departed, from board the ship for the purpose of an independent flight to the Base.
26. 05 Dr. B.P. Mavlyudov, senior scientist of the Institute of Geography of RAS, who participated in the work of the 55th seasonal RAE at Bellingshausen station, departed by air Bellingshausen station for Punta-Arenas (Chile), from where due to prolonged waiting for weather improvement he arrived to Moscow only on 2 June.
21. 05 The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” arrived from the Antarctic cruise to the port of St. Petersburg.
28. 05 The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” departed the port of St. Petersburg to the port of Turku for planned repair and installation of a multi-beam radar. 67
20. 06 At. Progress station in the area of the field camp of Progress station-1, construction of the new office-living complex of cabins-containers was completed.