FEDERAL SERVICE OF RUSSIA FOR HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING Federal State Budgetary Institution “Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute” Russian Antarctic Expedition
QUARTERLY BULLETIN
October – December 2016 № 4 ( 77 )
STATE OF ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT
Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations
St. Petersburg 2017
FEDERAL SERVICE OF RUSSIA FOR HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING Federal State Budgetary Institution “Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute” Russian Antarctic Expedition
QUARTERLY BULLETIN
October – December 2016 № 4 ( 77 )
STATE OF ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT
Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations
Edited by V.V. Lukin
St. Petersburg 2017
UDK 550.380 + 551.321.1 + 551.46.08 + 551.506 + 502.7 (99) (269)
Editor-in-chief A.V. Voevodin (Russian Antarctic Expedition – RAE)
Authors and contributors:
Section 1 A.V. Voevodin (RAE) Section 2 Ye.I. Aleksandrov (Department of Sea-Air Interaction) Section 3 G.Ye. Ryabkov (Department of Ice Regime and Forecasting) Section 4 A.I. Korotkov (Department of Ice Regime and Forecasting) Section 5 Ye.Ye. Sibir (Department of Sea-Air Interaction) Section 6 Yu.G. Turbin, Ul’yev V.А., L.N. Makarova (Department of Geophysics) Section 7 S. G. Poigina, А.А. Kalinkin, V.I. Zaitsev (GS RAS) Section 8 V.L. Martyanov (RAE)
Translated by I.I. Solovieva
Please, address proposals and comments to: Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Russian Antarctic Expedition, Bering str. 38, St. Petersburg 199397 Tel.: (812) 352-15-41; 337-31-04 Fax: (812) 337-31-86 E-Mail: [email protected]
The Bulletin is posted in the Internet at the site of the FSBI AARI of Roshydromet http://www.aari.aq/ at RAE pages in the section “Quarterly Bulletin”
© Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE), 2017
T A B L E OF C O N T E N T S
PREFACE ...... 1
1. DATA OF AEROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS .... 3
2. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2016 ...... 42
3. REVIEW OF THE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES OVER THE ANTARCTIC
IN OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2016 ...... 53
4. BRIEF REVIEW OF ICE PROCESSES IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN FROM DATA OF SATELLITE,
SHIPBORNE AND COASTAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS
IN 2016...... 57
5. RESULTS OF TOTAL OZONE MEASUREMENTS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS
IN 2016...... 62
6. GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS
IN OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2016 ...... 65
7. SEISMIC OBSERVATIONS IN ANTARCTICA IN 2015 ...... 78
8. MAIN RAE EVENTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2016 ...... 83
1
PREFACE
The activity of the Russian Antarctic Expedition in the fourth quarter of 2016 was carried out at five permanent Antarctic stations - Mirny, Novolazarevskaya, Bellingshausen, Progress and Vostok and at the field bases Molodezhnaya, Leningradskaya, Russkaya and Druzhnaya-4 and in the field camp Oasis. The work was performed by the teams of the 61st RAE over a full complex of the Antarctic environmental monitoring programs. At the field bases Molodezhnaya, Lenigradskaya, Russkaya and Druzhnaya-4 and in the field camp Oasis, the automatic weather stations AWS, model MAWS-110, and automatic geodetic complexes FAGS operated. Section I of the Bulletin contains monthly averages and extreme data of standard meteorological and solar radiation observations carried out at constantly operating stations during October-December 2016 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). In accordance with the International Geophysical Calendar, more frequent sounding during the periods of the International Geophysical Interval was conducted in 2016 at 00 h and 12 h UTC during 1 to 14 February, 2 to 15 May, 1 to 14 August and 7 to 20 November. The atmospheric pressure for the coastal stations in the meteorological tables is referenced to sea level. The atmospheric pressure at Vostok station is not referenced 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 present their deviations from multiyear averages (anomalies) and deviations in f fractions (normalized anomalies (f-favg)/f). For the monthly totals of precipitation and total radiation, relative anomalies (f/favg) are also presented. The statistical characteristics necessary for the 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 an assessment of the state of the Antarctic environment based on actual data for the quarter under consideration. Sections 2 and 3 are devoted to meteorological and synoptic conditions. The review of synoptic conditions (section 3) is prepared on the basis of the analysis of current aero-synoptic information, performed at the AARI. The analysis of ice conditions of 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 average and extreme values of the ice edge location, the updated data are used which are obtained at the AARI for each month from the results of processing the entire available historical archive of predominantly national information on the Antarctic for the period 1971 to 2005. Section 5 presents a review of the total ozone (TO) using measurements at the Russian Antarctic stations and onboard the R/V “Akademik Fedorov” during her voyage in Antarctic waters (south of 55° S). The measurements are interrupted in the autumn and winter period at the Sun’s height of less than 5°. Data of geophysical observations published in Section 6 present the results of geomagnetic measurements and measurements of space radio-emission at Mirny, Novolazarevskaya, Vostok and Progress stations. Section 7 publishes the results of seismic observations at the stations of GS RAS Mirny and Novolazarevskaya in 2016. Section 8 is devoted to the main events of RAE logistical activity during the quarter under consideration.
Российские антарктические станции и полевые базы
2
RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS AND FIELD BASES
MIRNY STATION Ст. Мирный
STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89592 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 39.9 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = 6633 S; = 9301 E GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES = -76.8; = 151.1 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 = 7046 S; = 1150 E GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES = -62.6; = 51.0 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 = 6212 S; = 5856 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 = 6923 S; = 7623 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 = 7828 S; = 10648 E GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES = -89.3; = 139.5 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 = 6740 S; = 4608 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 = 6930,1 S; = 15923,2 E Field Base Russkaya STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89132 HEIGHT OF AWS ABOVE SEA LEVEL 140 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = 7646 S; = 13647,9 E Field Base Druzhnaya-4 HEIGHT OF ABOVE SEA LEVEL 50 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = 6944 S; = 7342 E Field Camp Oasis (Bunger Oasis) SYNOPTIC INDEX 89601 AWS HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 9 M GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES =6616.5 S; =10044.8 E
3
1. DATA OF AEROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS
OCTOBER 2016
MIRNY STATION Table 1.1
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Mirny, October 2016 Normalized Relative Anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly anomaly f-favg (f-favg)/f f/favg Sea level air pressure, hPa 982.3 997.3 963.6 0.5 0.1 Air temperature, C −12.4 −3.9 −24.0 1.0 0.5 Relative humidity, % 69 0.0 0.0 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5.8 −1.0 −1.0 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 3.4 0.9 0.6 Precipitation, mm 46.6 3.1 0.1 1.1 Wind speed, m/s 10.5 25.0 −0.1 −0.1 Maximum wind gust, m/s 34.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 110 Total radiation, MJ/m2 497.8 −12.2 −0.4 1.0 Total ozone content (TO), DU 299 402 186
4
А B
0 C ° 995 -5
-10 985
-15 975
-20 Sea level air pressure, hPapressure,air level Sea
Surface air temperature,air Surface -25 965 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
, % % , 85 30
75 20
Relativehumidity 65 10 Surface wind speed, m/sec speed, wind Surface
55 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F 39 15 38 37 10 36
35
5 34
Snow covercm Snow thickness, 33 Daily precipitation sum,mm precipitationDaily 0 32 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, October 2016
5
Table 1.2
Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages)
Mirny, October 2016 Isobaric Isobaric Dew point Resultant Resultant Number of Number of Temperatur Wind stability surface, surface deficit, wind wind speed, days without days e, T C parameter,% P hPa height, D C direction, m/s temperature without
H m deg data wind data 977 39 −14.2 4.2 925 455 −13.4 5.4 95 11 93 0 1 850 1093 −17.1 5.0 88 9 85 0 1 700 2533 −21.4 6.1 99 2 17 0 0 500 4941 −35.7 7.5 285 3 24 0 0 400 6456 −45.6 7.1 276 5 30 0 0 300 8322 −56.8 7.0 266 7 40 0 0 200 10829 −64.6 6.9 266 13 73 0 0 150 12578 −65.4 7.0 268 17 88 0 0 100 15041 −65.4 7.4 271 25 90 0 0 70 17221 −61.8 7.8 276 34 92 0 0 50 19325 −56.7 8.7 280 42 93 0 0 30 22647 −44.9 12.2 286 51 93 0 0 20 25369 −38.0 15.3 290 54 92 1 1 10 30160 −32.7 18.0 298 51 92 16 ≥9
Table 1.3
Anomalies of standard isobaric surface height and temperature
Mirny, October 2016
P hPa (Н-Нavg), m (Н-Havg)/Н (Т-Тavg), С (Т-Тavg)/Т 850 −1 0.0 0.1 0.1 700 −4 −0.1 1.0 0.8 500 −3 −0.1 0.8 0.6 400 0 0.0 1.0 0.6 300 10 0.2 1.4 0.9 200 13 0.2 −0.1 −0.1 150 1 0.0 −1.6 −0.5 100 −37 −0.3 −4.7 −1.0 70 −95 −0.6 −5.5 −0.9 50 −155 −0.7 −4.9 −0.7 30 −197 −0.6 −0.1 0.0 20 −280 −0.7 0.9 0.1 10 −305 −0.7 −2.0 −0.4
6
NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION
Table 1.4
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Novolazarevskaya, October 2016 Normalized Relative Anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly anomaly f-favg (f-favg)/f f/favg Sea level air pressure, hPa 975.7 997.8 953.5 −8.4 −2.0 −9.1 −1.0 −19.6 3.5 2.3 Relative humidity, % 51 −0.6 −0.1 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 8.6 3.0 3.0 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 2.3 1.7 2.4 Precipitation, mm 24.4 −4.6 −0.1 0.8 Wind speed, m/s 13.9 29.0 3.9 2.8 Maximum wind gust, m/s 39.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 135 Total radiation, MJ/m2 341.4 −115.6 −3.2 0.7 Total ozone content (TO), DU 172 222 144
7
А B
0 1000
C ° 990 -5 980 -10 970 -15
960 Sea level air pressure, hPapressure, airlevel Sea Surface air temperature,air Surface -20 950 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
80 40 35 70 , % , 30 60 25 50 20 15 40
10 Relativehumidity 30 m/sec speed, wind Surface 5 20 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
6 10 9 5 8 4 7 6 3 5 2 4 3 1 coverage, Snow tenths
2 Daily precipitation sum,mm precipitation Daily 0 1 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, October 2016
8
Table 1.5
Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages)
Novolazarevskaya, October 2016 Isobaric Resultant Number of Number of Isobaric Dew point Resultant Wind surface Temperatur wind days days surface, deficit, wind speed, stability height, e, T C direction, without without P hPa D C m/s parameter,% H m deg temperature wind data
data 961 122 −9.7 9.2 0 0 0 0 0 925 414 −10.6 8.3 115 19 98 0 0 850 1057 −15.4 6.2 98 20 97 0 0 700 2493 −24.2 3.6 88 13 88 0 0 500 4874 −38.2 4.7 64 7 55 0 0 400 6373 −48.2 4.6 36 5 34 0 0 300 8210 −60.6 4.4 343 3 23 0 0 200 10662 −70.3 4.1 297 6 47 0 0 150 12356 −72.9 4.1 285 7 66 0 0 100 14712 −75.6 4.1 276 10 83 1 1 70 16768 −75.7 4.4 273 13 90 1 1 50 18714 −73.3 0.0 273 16 89 3 3 30 21741 −64.0 0.0 277 22 89 4 4 20 24281 −54.0 0.0 280 24 87 4 4
Table 1.6
Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature
Novolazarevskaya, October 2016
P hPa (Н-Нavg), m (Н-Havg)/Н (Т-Тavg), С (Т-Тavg)/Т 850 −57 −1.5 3.1 2.1 700 −47 −1.1 1.4 0.9 500 −47 −0.9 0.5 0.3 400 −48 −0.8 0.4 0.2 300 −53 −0.8 −0.3 −0.2 200 −65 −0.9 −1.1 −0.6 150 −90 −1.1 −2.3 −1.0 100 −136 −1.5 −5.0 −1.5 70 −206 −1.8 −6.7 −1.8 50 −296 −2.1 −7.0 −1.5 30 −435 −2.0 −4.8 −0.8 20 −500 −1.7 −2.9 −0.4
9
BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION
Table 1.7
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Bellingshausen, October 2016 Normalized Relative Anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly anomaly f-favg (f-favg)/f f/favg Sea level air pressure, hPa 994.5 1017.9 961.1 4.7 0.9 Air temperature, C −1.1 3.3 −7.5 1.5 1.5 Relative humidity, % 90.0 1.8 0.6 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 9.3 0.3 0.8 Lower cloudiness (sky coverage),tenths 7.1 −0.9 −1.5 Precipitation, mm 39.0 −10.6 −0.7 0.8 Wind speed, m/s 6.8 18.0 −1.2 −1.3 Maximum wind gust, m/s 23.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 360.0 2 Total radiation, MJ/m 344.87 −59.1 −1.5 0.9
10
А B
C 5 1020 ° 1010 0 1000 990 -5 980
970
Sea level air pressure, hPapressure,air level Sea Surface air temperature,air Surface -10 960 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
100
20 90
10
80
Relative humidity, % % Relativehumidity, Surface wind speed, m/sec speed, wind Surface
70 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
75 9
7 70
5 65 3 60
1 covercm thickness,Snow Daily precipitationDailysum,mm -1 55 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, October 2016
11
PROGRESS STATION
Table 1.8
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f)
Progress, October 2016
Parameter f fmax fmin Sea level air pressure, hPa 982.4 1000.2 960.8 0 Air temperature, C −11.1 −0.3 −23.4 Relative humidity, % 56 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5.8 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 4.3 Precipitation, mm 24.2 Wind speed, m/s 4.8 16.0 Maximum wind gust, m/s 28.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 67 2 Total radiation, MJ/m 444.6
12
А B
0 1010
C ° -5 1000
-10 990
-15 980
-20 970 Sea level air pressure, hPapressure, airlevel Sea
Surface air temperature,air Surface -25 960 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
90 30 В Г 80 25
70 20
60 15
50 10
Relative humidity, % % Relativehumidity, Surface wind speed, m/sec speed, wind Surface 40 5
30 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
10 15 9 8 7 Д 10 Е 6 5 4 3 5
2 Snow cover thickness, cm covercm thickness, Snow
Daily precipitation sum,mm precipitation Daily 1 0 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, October 2016
13
VOSTOK STATION
Table 1.9
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Vostok, October 2016 Normalized Relative Anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly anomaly f-favg (f-favg)/f f/favg Station surface level air pressure, hPa 619.6 628.0 610.6 0.2 0.0 Air temperature, C −57.6 −44.9 −72.7 −0.6 −0.4 Relative humidity, % 55 −15.5 −3.5 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 0.5 −3.5 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 0.0 0.0 0.0 Precipitation, mm 0.0 −1.9 −1.0 0.0 Wind speed, m/s 1.7 12.0 −3.8 −3.5 Maximum wind gust, m/s 15.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 205 2 Total radiation, MJ/m Total ozone content (TO), DU 189 332.0 120.0
14
А B
630
C ° -45
-55 620 Air pressure, hPapressure, Air
-65
Surface air temperature,air Surface -75 610 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
57 14 12 56 10 8
55 6
Relative humidity, % % Relative humidity, Surface wind speed, m/sec speed, wind Surface 4
54 2 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
1 115
0.5 110
Snow cover Snow cm thickness, Daily precipitation sum,mm precipitationDaily 0 105 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, October 2016
15
O C T O B E R 2 0 1 6
Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hPa (pressure at Vostok station is ground level pressure)
982.3 975.7 994.5 982.4 619.6 1000 750 500 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
(f-favg)/f 0.1 -2.0 0.9 0.0
Air temperature, °C -12.4 -9.1 -1.1 -11.1 -57.6 0 -20 -40 -60 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
(f-favg)/f 0.5 2.3 1.5 -0.4
Relative humidity, % 69 51 56 55 100 90
50
0 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
(f-favg)/f 0.0 -0.1 0.6 -3.5
Total cloudiness, tenths
5.8 8.6 9.3 5.8 0.5 10
5
0 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
(f-favg)/f -1.0 3.0 0.8 -3.5 Precipitation, mm 46.6 24.4 39.0 24.2 0.0 60 40 20 0 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
f/favg 1.1 0.8 0.8 0.0
Mean wind speed, m/s 10.5 13.9 6.8 4.8 1.7 15 10 5 0 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
(f-favg)/σf -0.1 2.8 -1.3 -3.5 Fig.1.6. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations. October 2016
16
NOVEMBER 2016
MIRNY STATION
Table 1.10
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Mirny, November 2016 Normalized Relative Anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly anomaly f-favg (f-favg)/f f/favg Sea level air pressure, hPa 987.2 1004.4 976.5 0.9 0.2 0 Air temperature, C −5.0 1.8 −15.3 2.3 1.6 Relative humidity, % 72 4.2 1.2 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 6.9 0.5 0.7 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 4.8 2.2 1.8 Precipitation, mm 37.8 4.4 0.2 1.1 Wind speed, m/s 12.7 29.0 2.9 2.4 Maximum wind gust, m/s 37.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 110 2 Total radiation, MJ/m 703.3 −69.7 −1.3 0.9 Total ozone content (TO), DU 367 406 276
17
А B C
° 0 1000 -5 990 -10 980
-15 Sea level air pressure, hPapressure,air level Sea Surface air temperature,air Surface -20 970 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
98 35 88
25 78
Relative humidity, % % Relative humidity, 68 15 Surface wind speed, m/sec speed, wind Surface 58 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
10 40
8 38
6 36
4 34
2 32
Snow covercm thickness,Snow Daily precipitation sum,mm precipitation Daily 0 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, November 2016
18
Table 1.11
Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages)
Mirny, November 2016 Isobaric Resultant Number of Number of Isobaric Dew point Resultant surface Temperatur wind Wind stability days without days surface, deficit, wind speed, height, e, T 0C direction, parameter,% temperature without P hPa D 0C m/s H m deg data wind data
984 39 −5.4 4.3 925 517 −7.1 6.2 90 17 99 1 1 850 1169 −11.4 5.3 84 16 98 1 1 700 2635 −18.5 5.5 85 11 80 1 1 500 5070 −32.7 7.1 79 5 43 1 1 400 6605 −42.6 7.3 65 4 29 1 1 300 8494 −53.7 7.2 51 2 14 1 1 200 11083 −52.7 8.1 343 4 39 1 1 150 12947 −50.8 9.7 332 6 61 1 1 100 15604 −47.2 11.8 334 10 68 1 1 70 17973 −44.2 13.2 340 12 70 1 1 50 20238 −41.8 14.4 347 14 73 1 1 30 23735 −39.1 15.8 355 13 75 1 1 20 26541 −38.2 16.8 8 13 77 2 2
Table 1.12
Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature
Mirny, November 2016
P hPa (Н-Нavg), m (Н-Havg)/Н (Т-Тavg), С (Т-Тavg)/Т 850 21 0.7 1.1 1.1 700 22 0.6 0.5 0.4 500 17 0.4 0.0 0.0 400 15 0.3 0.3 0.2 300 13 0.2 0.5 0.4 200 23 0.3 2.8 0.9 150 44 0.4 2.1 0.5 100 54 0.4 0.5 0.1 70 42 0.2 −1.1 −0.3 50 24 0.1 −2.2 −0.8 30 −7 0.0 −3.9 −1.4 20 −40 −0.2 −5.7 −1.8
19
NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION
Table 1.13
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Novolazarevskaya, November 2016 Normalized Relative Anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly anomaly f-favg (f-favg)/f f/favg Sea level air pressure, hPa 991.5 1005.3 979.8 5.7 1.5 0 Air temperature, C −4.1 3.1 −12.4 1.8 1.4 Relative humidity, % 44 −9.3 −2.1 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5.5 −0.8 −0.7 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 0.8 −0.2 −0.3 Precipitation, mm 0.0 −8.0 −0.7 0.0 Wind speed, m/s 8.4 23.0 −1.0 −0.5 Maximum wind gust, m/s 27.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 110 2 Total radiation, MJ/m 771.8 42.8 0.9 1.1 Total ozone content (TO), DU 276 374 179
20
А B
C ° 1 1000 -3
-7 990
-11 Sea level air pressure, hPapressure, airlevel Sea Surface air temperature,air Surface -15 980 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
60 30
50 20
40 10
Relative humidity, % % Relativehumidity, Surface wind speed, m/sec speed, wind Surface 30 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
1 4
0.5 2
Snow coverage,Snow tenths Daily precipitation sum,mm precipitation Daily 0 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, November 2016
21
Table 1.14
Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages)
Novolazarevskaya, November 2016 Number of Isobaric Resultant Number of Isobaric Dew point Resultant Wind days surface Temperatur wind days surface, deficit, wind speed, stability without height, e, T 0C direction, without P hPa D 0C m/s parameter,% temperature H m deg wind data data
978 122 −4.6 10.5 0 0 0 0 0 925 554 −7.1 10.3 105 12 96 0 0 850 1206 −12.1 8.8 99 12 97 0 0 700 2659 −21.3 7.3 94 10 90 0 0 500 5075 −34.1 8.2 79 3 32 0 0 400 6603 −44.1 8.0 118 1 4 0 0 300 8475 −56.2 7.3 256 1 7 0 0 200 10989 −63.2 7.5 270 3 25 0 0 150 12754 −63.6 8.1 267 3 33 0 0 100 15236 −63.4 8.9 276 3 33 0 0 70 17447 −57.4 10.2 308 5 32 0 0 50 19628 −48.8 12.5 312 7 40 1 1 30 23133 −36.3 17.2 350 10 52 3 3 20 25977 −32.1 19.8 17 10 55 3 3
Table 1.15
Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature
Novolazarevskaya, November 2016
P hPa (Н-Нavg), m (Н-Havg)/Н (Т-Тavg), С (Т-Тavg)/Т 850 55 1.8 0.9 0.8 700 52 1.6 0.4 0.4 500 52 1.3 0.8 0.6 400 55 1.1 0.9 0.8 300 57 1.1 0.6 0.6 200 46 0.7 −1.6 −0.5 150 23 0.3 −3.6 −0.9 100 −51 −0.4 −7.6 −1.4 70 −137 −0.7 −6.3 −1.1 50 −166 −0.7 −2.2 −0.4 30 −114 −0.4 3.1 0.8 20 −51 −0.2 2.0 0.5
22
BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION
Table 1.16
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Bellingshausen, November 2016 Normalized Relative Anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly anomaly f-favg (f-favg)/f f/favg Sea level air pressure, hPa 985.7 1014.9 954.7 −1.9 −0.4 Air temperature, 0C −0.7 3.1 −9.7 0.5 0.6 Relative humidity, % 83 −4.6 −1.3 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 8.4 −0.8 −2.0 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 6.0 −2.0 −2.2 Precipitation, mm 42.2 −6.2 −0.3 0.9 Wind speed, m/s 6.2 13.0 −0.8 −0.9 Maximum wind gust, m/s 19.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 270 Total radiation, MJ/m2 546.2 7.2 0.2 1.0
23
А B
4
C 1015 ° 1005 -1 995 985 -6 975
965 Sea level air pressure, hPapressure,air level Sea Surface air temperature,air Surface -11 955 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
97 20
87
10
77
Relative humidity, % % Relative humidity, Surface wind speed, m/sec speed, wind Surface
67 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
65 8 7 60 6 55 5 50 4 45 3 40 2 35
1 covercm thickness,Snow 30 Daily precipitationDailysum,mm 0 25 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, November 2016 г
24
PROGRESS STATION
Table 1.17 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f)
Progress, November 2016 Parameter f fmax fmin Sea level air pressure, hPa 990.9 1006.4 975.9 Air temperature, 0C −2.4 3.5 −13.3 Relative humidity, % 51 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5.2 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 2.3 Precipitation, mm 2.6 Wind speed, m/s 5.9 14.0 Maximum wind gust, m/s 26.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 90 Total radiation, MJ/m2 782.4
25
А B
C ° 1005 0
-5 995
-10 985 Surface air temperature,air Surface -15 hPapressure,air level Sea 975 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
30 80 В Г 25 70 20 60 15
50 10
Relative humidity, % % Relative humidity, Surface wind speed, m/sec speed, wind Surface 40 5
30 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
1.8 5 1.6 1.4 4 1.2 Д Е 1 3 0.8 2 0.6 0.4
1 Snow covercm thickness,Snow
Daily precipitation sum,mm precipitationDaily 0.2 0 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, November 2016
26
VOSTOK STATION
Table 1.18
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Vostok, November 2016 Normalized Anomaly Relative Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly f-favg anomaly f/favg (f-favg)/f Station surface level air pressure, hPa 635.0 645.8 625.3 9.3 2.0 Air temperature, C −40.0 −26.3 −55.4 3.1 2.1 Relative humidity, % 56 −15.9 −3.8 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 1.0 −2.9 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 0.0 0.0 0.0 Precipitation, mm 0.0 −0.9 −1.3 0.0 Wind speed, m/s 4.6 9.0 −0.6 −0.7 Maximum wind gust, m/s 13.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 180 Total radiation, MJ/m2 911.6 −22.5 −0.6 1.0 Total ozone content (TO), DU 335 367 232
27
А B
-20 650
C °
-30 640 -40 630
-50 hPapressure,Air
Surface air temperature,air Surface -60 620 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
57 14 12 56 10 8
55 6 Relative humidity, % % Relative humidity,
Surface wind wind Surface speed, m/sec 4
54 2 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
1 112
111 0.5
110
Snow covercm Snow thickness, Surface wind speed, m/sec speed, wind Surface 0 109 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, November 2016
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 6 28
Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hPa(pressure at Vostok station is ground level pressure)
987.2 991.5 985.7 990.9 635.0 1000 750 500 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf 0.2 1.5 -0.4 2.0
Air temperature, °C
-5.0 -4.1 -0.7 -2.4 -40.0 0 -20 -40 -60 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf 1.6 1.4 0.6 2.1
Relative humidity, %
72 44 83 51 56 100 50 0 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
(f-favg)/σf 1.2 -2.1 -1.3 -3.8
Total cloudiness, tenths
6.9 8.4 1.0 10 5.5 5.2
5
0 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf 0.7 -0.7 -2.0 -2.9
Precipitation, mm
37.8 0.0 42.2 2.6 0.0 60
30
0 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok f/favg 1.1 0.0 0.9 0.0
Mean wind speed, m/s
12.7 8.4 6.2 5.9 4.6 15 10 5 0 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf 2.4 -0.5 -0.9 -0.7 Fig. 1.12. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations
November 2016
29
DECEMBER 2016
MIRNY STATION
Table 1.19
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Mirny, December 2016 Normalized Relative Anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly anomaly f-favg (f-favg)/f f/favg Sea level air pressure, hPa 990.6 1002.0 978.8 0.9 0.2 Air temperature, 0C −1.8 3.4 −7.9 0.7 0.8 Relative humidity, % 77 6.3 1.5 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 7.6 0.7 0.7 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 5.6 2.6 2.4 Precipitation, mm 91.6 66.4 3.0 3.6 Wind speed, m/s 9.6 19.0 1.1 0.8 Maximum wind gust, m/s 26.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 110 Total radiation, MJ/m2 820.5 −122.6 −1.7 0.9 Total ozone content (TO), DU 343 367 319
30
А B
5 1005
C °
0 995
-5 985 Sea level air pressure, hPapressure, airlevel Sea Surface air temperature,air Surface -10 975 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
95
85 20
75 10
65 m/sec speed, wind Surface Relative humidity, % % Relative humidity,
55 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F 32 25
20 30
15 28
10 26
5 24
Snow covercm Snow thickness, Daily precipitation sum,mm precipitationDaily 0 22 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, December 2016
31
Table 1.20
Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages)
Mirny, December 2016 Isobaric Isobaric Temperatur Dew point Resultant Resultant Wind Number of Number of surface, surface e, T 0C deficit, wind wind speed, stability days days P hPa height, D 0C direction, m/s parameter,% without without H m deg temperature wind data data 986 39 −2.6 4.0 850 1038 −6.2 6.0 92 18 98 0 0 850 1200 −9.0 4.5 83 14 98 0 0 700 2676 −17.0 5.6 71 11 94 0 1 500 5126 −31.2 6.8 50 5 47 0 0 400 6673 −40.8 7.6 33 4 31 0 0 300 8578 −51.6 7.3 358 3 19 0 0 200 11211 −48.5 9.1 308 3 42 0 0 150 13109 −46.7 11.4 305 4 52 0 0 100 15807 −44.8 13.4 317 3 54 0 0 70 18199 −42.2 14.9 33 3 65 0 0 50 20477 −40.5 15.7 59 5 92 0 0 30 23960 −38.7 17.6 76 8 98 1 1 20 26748 −36.7 18.7 81 10 99 3 3
Table 1.21
Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Mirny, December 2016
P hPa (Н-Нavg), m (Н-Havg)/Н (Т-Тavg), С (Т-Тavg)/Т 850 6 0.2 −0.1 −0.1 700 −1 0.0 −0.6 −0.6 500 −18 −0.4 −1.2 −1.0 400 −29 −0.6 −0.8 −0.7 300 −37 −0.6 −0.2 −0.2 200 −47 −0.7 −1.0 −0.5 150 −59 −0.8 −1.5 −0.7 100 −83 −1.0 −2.2 −1.2 70 −120 −1.2 −1.5 −1.1 50 −128 −1.3 −1.3 −1.0 30 −166 −1.7 −2.3 −1.4 20 −203 −2.1 −3.1 −1.4
32
NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION
Table 1.22
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Novolazarevskaya, December 2016 Normalized Relative Anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly anomaly f-favg (f-favg)/f f/favg Sea level air pressure, hPa 990.6 998.4 981.7 0.3 0.1 Air temperature, 0C 0.6 5.7 −5.3 1.5 1.9 Relative humidity, % 50 −7.8 −1.9 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5.1 −1.2 −1.7 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 1.5 0.0 0.0 Precipitation, mm 0.4 −7.2 −0.5 0.1 Wind speed, m/s 6.5 19.0 −0.9 −0.5 Maximum wind gust, m/s 24.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 110 Total radiation, MJ/m2 970.8 62.8 0.9 1.1 Total ozone content (TO), DU 328 348 311
33
А B
6 1000
C ° 4 995 2 0 990 -2 985
-4 Sea level air pressure, hPapressure, airlevel Sea
Surface air temperature,air Surface -6 980 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
25 85 75 20 65 15 55 10 45
Relative humidity, % % Relativehumidity, 5
35 m/sec speed, wind Surface 25 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
0.25 4
0.2 3 0.15 2 0.1 1
0.05 coverage, tenths Snow Daily precipitation sum,mm precipitation Daily 0 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, December 2016
34
Table 1.23
Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages)
Novolazarevskaya, December 2016 Isobaric Isobaric Temperatur Dew point Resultant Resultant Wind Number of Number of surface, surface e, T 0C deficit, wind wind speed, stability days days P hPa height, D 0C direction, m/s parameter,% without without H m deg temperature wind data data 976 122 −1.0 8.1 0 0 0 0 0 925 548 −2.4 10.4 106 10 93 0 0 850 1211 −7.5 9.2 99 10 93 0 0 700 2690 −17.1 8.8 99 11 92 0 0 500 5138 −31.7 7.6 107 6 54 0 0 400 6678 −42.5 7.1 122 4 32 0 0 300 8565 −53.7 6.6 137 3 20 0 0 200 11171 −50.3 8.3 172 2 34 0 0 150 13058 −47.2 11.0 164 3 55 0 0 100 15763 −43.1 14.8 153 4 67 0 0 70 18168 −41.0 16.9 128 5 80 0 0 50 20461 −38.7 18.3 118 7 89 0 0 30 23979 −36.6 19.4 108 9 96 0 0 20 26795 −34.7 20.1 100 10 97 1 1
Table 1.24
Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature
Novolazarevskaya, December 2016
P hPa (Н-Нavg), m (Н-Havg)/Н (Т-Тavg), С (Т-Тavg)/Т 850 6 0.1 1.3 1.6 700 9 0.2 1.2 1.0 500 7 0.1 −0.2 −0.1 400 0 0.0 −0.9 −0.6 300 −15 −0.2 −1.1 −0.9 200 −30 −0.4 −0.7 −0.2 150 −38 −0.4 −0.5 −0.2 100 −34 −0.3 −0.2 −0.1 70 −42 −0.3 −0.5 −0.2 50 −62 −0.4 −0.6 −0.4 30 −90 −0.7 −1.3 −0.6 20 −97 −0.6 −2.0 −0.9
35
BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION Table 1.25
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Bellingshausen, December 2016 г. Normalized Relative Anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly anomaly f-favg (f-favg)/f f/favg Sea level air pressure, hPa 992.2 1001.4 970.3 0.8 0.2 Air temperature, 0C 0.5 4.9 −3.6 0.1 0.2 Relative humidity, % 82 −5.5 −1.3 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 9.1 0.0 0.0 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 5.9 −2.0 −2.9 Precipitation, mm 25.5 −23.6 −1.5 0.5 Wind speed, m/s 5.1 14.0 −1.5 −1.9 Maximum wind gust, m/s 20.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 110 Total radiation, MJ/m2 584.4 4.4 0.1 1.0
36
А B C ° 5 1000
990 0
980 Sea level air pressure, hPapressure,air level Sea Surface air temperature,air Surface -5 970 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
20 95
85 10
Relative humidity, % % Relative humidity, 75 Surface wind speed, m/sec speed, wind Surface
65 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
6 30
25
4 20
15
2 10 Snow coverage, Snow tenths
5 Daily precipitationDailysum,mm 0 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, December 2016
37
PROGRESS STATION
Table 1.26 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f)
Progress, December 2016
Parameter f fmax fmin Sea level air pressure, hPa 990.7 1001.1 981.8 Air temperature, 0C 1.2 8.1 −4.5 Relative humidity, % 57 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 7.1 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 4.2 Precipitation, mm 4.6 Wind speed, m/s 4.7 14.0 Maximum wind gust, m/s 25.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 90 Total radiation, MJ/m2 927.8
38
А B
10
C 1000 °
995 5
990 0
985 Sea level air pressure, hPapressure, airlevel Sea
Surface air temperature,air Surface -5 980 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
85 25 В Г 75 20
65 15
55 10
Relative humidity, % % Relativehumidity, Surface wind speed, m/sec speed, wind Surface 45 5
35 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
1.6 20 1.4 1.2 1 Д Е 0.8 10 0.6
0.4 Snow cover thickness, cm covercm thickness, Snow
Daily precipitation sum,mm precipitation Daily 0.2 0 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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 cover thickness (F) Progress station, December 2016
39
VOSTOK STATION
Table 1.27
Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)
Vostok, December 2016 Normalized Relative Anomaly Parameter f fmax fmin anomaly anomaly f-favg (f-favg)/f f/favg Ground level air pressure, hPa 635.1 644.6 628.7 1.3 0.3 Air temperature, C −31.5 −16.2 −42.6 0.4 0.2 Relative humidity, % 57 −15.4 −3.4 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 0.5 −2.7 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 0.0 −0.2 −1.0 Precipitation, mm 0.0 −0.6 −0.6 0.0 Wind speed, m/s 4.1 9.0 −0.4 −0.4 Maximum wind gust, m/s 12.0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 205 Total radiation, MJ/m2 1226.2 −5.8 −0.1 1.0 Total ozone content (TO), DU 319 339 301
40
А B
-15 645
C °
640 -25 635 -35
630 Air pressure, hPapressure, Air
Surface air temperature,air Surface -45 625 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C D
59 12 10
58 8 6
57 4
Relative humidity, % % Relative humidity, Surface wind speed, m/sec speed, wind Surface 2
56 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
E F
1 112
111
0.5
110
Snow coverage, tenths Snow Daily precipitation sum,mm precipitationDaily 0 109 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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, December 2016
41
D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6
Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hPa (pressure at Vostok station is ground level pressure)
990.6 990.6 992.2 990.7 635.1 1000 750 500 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
(f-favg)/σf 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3
Air temperature, °C
-1.8 0.6 0.5 1.2 -31.5 0 -20 -40 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
(f-favg)/σf 0.8 1.9 0.2 0.2
Relative humidity, %
50 82 57 57 100 77 50 0 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
(f-favg)/σf 1.5 -1.9 -1.3 -3.4
Total cloudiness, tenths
7.6 9.1 7.1 10 5.1 0.5 5 0 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
(f-favg)/σf -1.0 3.0 0.8 -3.5
Precipitation, mm
91.6 4.6 120 0.4 25.5 0.0 80 40 0 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok f/favg 3.6 0.1 0.5 0.0
Mean wind speed, m/s
9.6 6.5 4.1 10 5.1 4.7 5 0 Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok
(f-favg)/σf 3.0 -0.5 -1.9 -0.4
Fig. 1.18. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations
December 2016 42
2. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2016
Figure 2.1 characterizes the air temperature conditions in October-December 2016 at the Antarctic continent. It presents monthly averages, their anomalies and normalized anomalies of surface air temperature 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 of surface temperature for the period 1961-1990 were adopted from [4]. In October as compared with September, there was an increase in the number of stations with the above zero anomalies of mean monthly air temperature (Fig. 2.1). The main center of the area of above zero anomalies of air temperature was located in the coastal zone of the Queen Maud Land. Here at Syowa and Novolazarevskaya stations, the air temperature anomalies comprised 4.3°С (3.2 ) and 3.5°С (2.3). For Syowa and Novolazarevskaya stations, October 2016 was the first warmest October for the period of operation of the stations. Small (less than 1) below zero air temperature anomalies were observed in the inland part of East Antarctica, western part of the Ross Sea and in the eastern part of the Weddell Sea. The largest of them was noted in the vicinity of Halley station (−2.2°С, −0.8 ). In November, the area of the above zero anomalies of air temperature spread almost over the entire territory of Antarctica. The center of the heat area was near the South Pole in the area of Amundsen-Scott station (4.3°С, 1.9). For Amundsen-Scott station, November 2016 was the second warmest November from 1957. There was a small by area zone of the below zero temperature anomalies on the Antarctic Peninsula in the vicinity of Rothera station. In December, like in November, the above zero air temperature anomalies were observed almost at all stations of Antarctica. The center of the heat area was still in the area of the South Pole. At Amundsen-Scott station, the air temperature anomaly was 2.5°С (1.5), where December 2016 was the fifth warmest December over the entire observation period. A small cold area was located in the coastal zone of the Weddell Sea, and at Halley station the below zero air temperature anomaly comprised −0.5°С (−0.6 ). The statistically significant linear trends of long-period changes of mean monthly air temperature in these months at the Russian stations were detected only at Vostok station (Figs. 2.2–2.4). The air temperature increase at Vostok station in November and December was 2.8°С and 1.6°С, respectively for 59 years (Table 2.1). In the last decade one notes appearance of a tendency for the decrease of air temperature in November – December at Bellingshausen station. It is not however statistically significant. The atmospheric pressure at Bellingshausen and Mirny stations in October – December was characterized by small (less than 1 ) deviations from the multiyear average. At Novolazarevskaya station in October, a large negative air pressure anomaly (−8.4 hPa, −2.0) was observed. Such low pressure in October was noted for the first time here. A large positive air pressure anomaly was observed in November at Vostok station (10.1 hPa, 2.1), where the air pressure in November 2016 has become the new mean monthly maximum. In December at Novolazarevskaya and Vostok stations, the atmospheric pressure was close to a multiyear average. The statistically significant linear trends of long-period changes of mean monthly atmospheric pressure at the Russian stations in these months are observed in December at Bellingshausen, Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations (Figs. 2.2–2.4). The air pressure decrease in December at Bellingshausen, Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations was about –5.9 hPa/49 years, –4.0 hPa/60 years and –5.4 hPa/56 years, respectively. The amount of precipitation at all Russian stations in October, and in December was mainly below the multiyear average. At Vostok station in these months similar to February – September of this year, there was a complete absence of precipitation. At the same time of interest is the monthly total of precipitation recorded in December at Mirny station, which significantly exceeds the multiyear average. The analysis of this case showed this to be a mistake resulting from precipitation being blown into the precipitation gauge. 43
Table 2.1 Linear trend parameters of mean monthly and mean annual surface air temperature
Station Parameter I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII Year Entire observation period Novolazarevskaya °С/10 yr 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.12 −0.08 0.15 0.21 0.41 0.20 0.18 0.14 0.05 0.13 1961–2016 % 9.7 8.0 6.9 10.8 6.4 10.4 12.6 27.6 17.1 17.1 19.0 8.2 34.8 Р ------95 - - - - 95 Mirny °С/10 yr −0.06 −0.03 −0.09 −0.10 −0.07 0.06 0.07 0.14 0.47 0.06 0.11 0.02 0.05 1957–2016 % 9.5 4.9 10.7 8.3 4.3 4.9 4.0 9.2 31.6 5.8 15.0 2.6 10.4 Р ------95 - - - - Vostok °С/10 yr 0.18 0.03 0.02 0.01 −0.01 −0.03 0.14 0.38 0.15 0.14 0.48 0.28 0.16 1958–2016 % 21.7 3.3 1.9 2.0 0.1 1.4 6.9 18.2 8.1 14.1 51.7 32.2 30.7 Р 90 ------99 95 95 Bellingshausen °С/10 yr 0.01 0.01 0.13 0.06 0.52 0.34 0.22 0.40 0.02 0.07 −0.03 −0.09 0.15 1968–2016 % 2.6 1.7 21.1 5.7 38.4 22.7 10.5 25.6 2.0 9.0 6.1 19.8 26.3 Р - - - - 95 - - 90 - - - - 90 2007–2016 Novolazarevskaya оС/10 yr −0.74 0.68 −1.00 −0.04 0.67 −1.79 −4.87 3.38 −0.66 2.81 0.02 1.63 −0.01 % 21.0 27.9 35.1 0.8 11.8 21.1 64.1 39.1 9.8 41.9 0.7 40.2 0.6 Р ------95 ------Mirny оС/10 yr −0.02 −0.65 −3.35 −4.34 −5.35 −4.35 −7.65 0.41 −1.15 0.90 1.08 1.24 −1.94 % 0.8 15.6 68.1 62.7 56.5 69.0 68.4 5.7 12.8 21.8 26.9 55.4 6.6 Р - - 95 - - 95 95 ------Vostok оС/10 yr −0.40 −0.45 −5.17 −1.95 −4.77 −2.66 −6.68 1.85 0.95 2.55 2.50 0.89 −1.11 % 11.1 6.9 73.7 27.8 44.2 19.2 54.0 14.6 10.0 43.1 57.8 30.7 23.6 Р - - 95 ------Bellingshausen оС/10 yr −1.73 −1.39 0.24 1.46 0.65 1.81 3.96 −0.42 −1.67 0.62 −0.56 −1.10 0.15 % 74.5 53.4 9.5 28.5 25.5 25.9 42.1 8.9 25.8 17.5 17.9 39.6 6.5 Р 95 ------Notes: 1. First line is the linear trend coefficient. 2. Second line is the dispersion value explained by the linear trend. 3. Third line: P=1−, where is the level of significance (given if P exceeds 90%).
Peculiarities of meteorological conditions in 2016 For characterizing the meteorological conditions in the territory of Antarctica in 2016 we shall consider the spatial distribution of the average for the seasons and for the year air temperature anomalies at the Antarctic stations. As the seasons, the calendar seasons were taken and the summer season included December of the previous year. Table 2.2 and Fig. 2.5 present the values of anomalies of mean seasonal air temperature at the Antarctic stations in 2016. In the summer season, over much of the territory of Antarctica there was an area of below zero air temperature anomalies. The main center of the cold area was traced in the region of the Weddell Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula. Here at Halley-Bay and Bellingshausen stations, the air temperature anomalies comprised −1°С (−1.5) and −0.9°С (−2.2) (Table 2.2). At Bellingshausen station, the summer season 2015/2016 was the third coldest season from 1968. In the Ross Sea area and in the inland part of East Antarctica at nearby Vostok station there was an area of small above zero air temperature anomalies with the center in the vicinity of McMurdo station (0.9°С, 1.0). For McMurdo station, this is the eighth warmest summer season from 1957. 44
Table 2.2 Mean seasonal anomalies and normalized air temperature anomalies at the Antarctic stations, °С Summer Autumn Winter Spring Summe Autumn Winter Spring Station r Anomalies Normalized anomalies Amundsen-Scott −0.3 0.5 0.1 1.1 −0.3 0.4 0.1 0.7 Novolazarevskaya −0.2 1.1 1.3 1.6 −0.2 1.0 0.8 1.6 Syowa 0.0 −0.5 2.3 1.7 −0.1 −0.4 1.5 1.8 Mawson −0.7 −0.9 −0.4 0.6 −0.8 −0.7 −0.2 0.6 Davis −0.4 −1.6 −2.1 −0.1 −0.6 −1.1 −1.3 0.0 Mirny −0.9 −0.5 −0.8 0.3 −1.4 −0.3 −0.5 0.2 Casey −1.0 0.5 −1.1 0.8 −1.6 0.3 −0.6 0.5 Dumont D’Urville −0.5 −0.6 −0.6 1.0 −0.9 −0.4 −0.4 1.1 McMurdo 0.9 −1.5 −1.0 0.1 1.0 −0.9 −0.6 0.1 Rothera −0.5 0.4 0.1 2.3 −0.7 0.4 0.1 1.2 Bellingshausen −0.9 0.5 2.2 1.7 −2.2 0.5 1.1 1.9 Orcadas −0.2 −0.6 0.6 2.6 −0.3 −0.5 0.3 2.2 Halley-Bay −1.1 −0.8 −1.9 0.3 −1.5 −0.4 −0.9 0.2 Vostok 0.3 −0.8 −1.8 0.8 0.3 −0.6 −0.9 0.5 Notes: 1. The summer season includes December of the previous year. 2. Bold print denotes the air temperature anomalies of 1.5 and more.
In the autumn season, the below zero air temperature anomalies were preserved over much of Antarctica. The main center of the cold area was in East Antarctica in the coastal zone of the Cooperation Sea1. Here at Davis station, the anomaly of mean seasonal air temperature was −1.6°С (−1.1). The autumn season at this station was the twelfth coldest season from 1957. In the area of the Antarctic Peninsula, the South Pole, the Wilkes Land and the western part of the Queen Maud Land, small above zero air temperature anomalies were traced. The largest of them were observed at Novolazarevskaya station (1.1°С, 1.0). For Novolazarevskaya station, this is the seventh warmest season from 1961. In the winter season, the above zero air temperature anomalies were observed in the vicinity of the Queen Maud Land, South Pole and the Antarctic Peninsula. The center of the area of above zero anomalies was located in the region of the Queen Maud Land. Here at Syowa station, the air temperature anomaly was 2.3°С (1.5). The winter season of 2016 was the seventh warmest winter season at the station from 1957. The main area of below zero anomalies of mean seasonal temperature covered the central and eastern parts of the Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica, the Ross Sea region. A small cold area was noted in the eastern Weddell Sea. The largest negative anomaly of air temperature was recorded near Davis station (−2.1°С, −1.3). At Davis station, the winter season of 2016 has become the fifth warmest winter season from 1957. In the spring season, the area of above zero air temperature anomalies spread almost the entire territory of Antarctica. Large above zero air temperature anomalies were observed in all regions of Antarctica. The highest values were recorded in the area of the Queen Maud Land and the Antarctic Peninsula. At Syowa and Novolazarevskaya stations, the anomalies comprised 1.7°С (1.8) and 1.6°С (1.6), respectively and thus, the spring season of 2016 has become the fifth and the fourth warmest season for the period of operation of these stations. In general for the year, the values of anomalies of mean annual air temperature anomalies are not too large at most stations (see Fig. 2.1, Table 2.3). In the vicinity of the South Pole, coastal zone of the Queen Maud Land and the Antarctic Peninsula, there was an area of the above zero anomalies of mean annual air temperature. In the remaining part of Antarctica, one observed the below zero air temperature anomalies. The highest values of the above zero anomalies of mean annual air temperature were noted in the coastal zone of the Queen Maud Land. Here at Syowa and Novolazarevskaya stations, the anomaly was 1.0°С and the past year was the third and the fourth warmest year for the period of operations of the stations. The year 2016 was the coldest at Davis station. It was the sixth coldest year from 1957.
1 This geographical name is used on the Russian geographical charts denoting the area with coordinates of 67oS, 70oW. 45
Table 2.3. Mean annual air temperature (T°С), its anomalies (ΔT°С) and normalized anomalies (ΔT/σ) at the Antarctic stations in 20161) Station T ΔT ΔT/σ Rank by Rank by Largest Least decrease 2) increase 3) anomaly Anomaly Amundsen-Scott −48.9 0.5 0.9 8 18 2013(+1.9) 1983(−1.6) Novolazarevskaya −9.3 1.0 1.4 4 20 2002(+1.6) 1976(−1.0) Syowa −9.5 1.0 1.3 3 24 1980(+2.2) 1976(−1.7) Mawson −11.6 −0.3 −0.4 17 13 1961(+1.7) 1982(−2.2) Davis −11.3 −1.0 −1.2 22 6 2007(+2.4) 1982(−2.4) Mirny −11.7 −0.4 −0.6 18 9 2007(+1.9) 1993(−1.5) Casey −9.2 −0.2 −0.2 15 13 1980(+2.5) 1999(−2.3) Dumont D’Urville −10.7 −0.1 −0.1 10 12 1981(+1.8) 1999(−1.5) McMurdo −17.5 −0.4 −0.5 20 11 2011(+2.7) 1968(−1.5) Rothera −3.8 1.0 0.6 10 27 1989(+3.0) 1980(−3.8) Bellingshausen −1.6 0.9 1.1 5 17 1989(+1.8) 1980(−1.5) Orcadas −3.0 0.5 0.6 11 16 1989(+2.1) 1980(−2.6) Halley-Bay −19.2 −0.9 −0.9 17 12 1969(+2.0) 1997(−2.8) Vostok −55.7 −0.4 −0.5 19 10 2007(+2.2) 1960(−2.0) Notes: 1) The Table contains in brackets the values of the largest and smallest anomalies observed at each station; 2) The rank of the warmest years for the period of station operation; 3) The rank of the coldest years for the period of station operation.
In 2016, the new highest and lowest mean monthly air temperature values were recorded at the Antarctic stations (Table 2.4). Table 2.4 New highest and lowest mean monthly air temperature values at the Antarctic stations in 2016, °С Station New mean monthly maximum New mean monthly minimum Halley (VI) – −34.3°С (−7.7°C, −2.4 σ) Bellingshausen (IX, 2008, 2016) −1.3°С (3.1°С, 1.7 σ) – Novolazarevskaya (X, 2002, 2016) −9.1°С (3.5°С, 2.3 σ) – Syowa (X) −9.3°С (4.3°С, 3.2 σ) – Note: anomalies and normalized anomalies are given in brackets.
Considering the interannual changes of mean annual and average air temperature in some seasons for the period 1957-2016 at separate stations (Table 2.5), one can note both general regularities in the changes covering significant territories of Antarctica, and manifestation of local peculiarities at specific stations. 46
Table 2.5 Linear trend parameters of mean seasonal and mean annual air temperature Station Summer Fall Winter Spring Year Bx D Bx D Bx D Bx D Bx D 1957–2016 Amundsen-Scott 0.08 9.7 0.03 4.4 −0.09 9.1 0.18 19.8 0.04 4.0 Novolazarevskaya 0.18 24 0.03 3.9 0.25 25.8 0.08 27.4 0.11 29.4 Syowa 0.03 9.1 −0.13 17.5 0.13 13.3 0.05 8.4 0.02 1.2 Mawson −0.04 10.1 −0.15 19.6 −0.03 3.2 0.12 20.4 −0.02 7.5 Davis 0.06 15.0 −0.12 12.4 −0.05 4.4 0.31 37.5 0.06 11.5 Mirny −0.02 6.6 −0.09 9.8 0.09 9.6 0.21 29.6 0.05 11.9 Casey −0.06 14.1 −0.12 11.8 0.09 8.6 0.15 20.3 0.02 0.7 Dumont D’Urville −0.01 1.5 −0.06 6.1 −0.06 6.1 0.11 18.7 −0.05 16.7 McMurdo 0.13 24.4 0.20 21.9 0.24 20.4 0.47 50.4 0.26 48.7 Rothera 0.12 30.0 0.68 58.4 0.76 40.4 0.25 81.1 0.44 49.8 Bellingshausen −0.01 3.8 0.24 32.7 0.32 24.3 0.02 3.9 0.15 22.3 Orcadas 0.12 32.3 0.18 23.0 0.39 32.2 0.11 14.2 0.20 36.4 Halley-Bay −0.04 8.2 −0.44 36.3 −0.06 5.0 0.02 2.7 −0.12 23.7 Vostok 0.17 27.6 0.00 0.0 0.16 12.5 0.26 31.5 0.15 29.7 1987–2016 Amundsen-Scott 0.48 31.6 0.53 31.0 0.12 5.9 0.16 8.0 0.41 42.0 Novolazarevskaya −0.31 34.9 −0.08 6.5 −0.20 12.2 0.16 14.9 −0.17 25.3 Syowa −0.07 9.5 −0.49 31.7 −0.08 4.3 0.23 16.4 −0.10 18.9 Mawson −0.19 23.6 −0.07 3.9 −0.30 16.3 0.29 25.6 −0.05 10.3 Davis 0.05 7.0 −0.25 12.4 −0.59 27.2 0.27 18.8 −0.12 10.2 Mirny 0.10 10.1 0.05 3.0 −0.37 20.1 0.27 17.9 0.04 4.2 Casey −0.18 21.1 0.03 1.4 −0.48 24.8 0.00 0.3 −0.13 24.0 Dumont D’Urville 0.02 2.8 −0.51 28.6 −0.51 28.6 −0.15 14.9 −0.18 33.6 McMurdo 0.54 50.3 0.25 14.3 0.09 3.7 0.38 27.7 0.32 36.5 Rothera −0.25 37.9 0.26 25.0 0.47 16.7 0.20 12.4 0.17 14.8 Bellingshausen −0.33 45.0 0.26 21.9 0.23 10.7 0.00 0.4 0.04 5.1 Orcadas −0.20 28.1 0.25 16.9 −0.15 8.0 0.21 13.1 0.04 3.7 Halley-Bay −0.45 43.6 −0.13 6.2 −0.45 18.8 0.06 4.3 −0.25 27.3 Vostok 0.12 11.1 0.14 8.1 0.08 3.2 0.74 44.6 0.29 27.6 2007–2016 Amundsen-Scott −0.06 1.6 0.35 6.9 −0.99 17.7 −2.06 28.5 −0.78 30.9 Novolazarevskaya 0.39 17.0 −0.13 5.0 −1.09 18.0 0.72 26.7 −0.01 34.4 Syowa −0.08 3.8 0.17 8.1 −0.34 5.1 0.41 2.5 0.09 3.4 Mawson 0.23 14.0 −4.33 85.7 −3.15 45.8 0.67 17.7 −1.50 63.4 Davis 0.07 4.3 −5.48 84.2 −4.62 65.1 0.21 4.1 −2.29 67.5 Mirny 0.01 0.6 −4.35 78.3 −3.86 64.3 0.28 3.9 −1.94 60.3 Casey 0.40 22.4 −2.35 54.7 −4.87 77.9 −0.51 15.9 −0.73 84.1 Dumont D’Urville 0.55 28.0 −2.04 39.2 −2.04 39.2 −0.64 20.9 −1.17 64.6 McMurdo 0.56 37.6 −2.99 60.3 −2.74 40.5 −0.98 20.7 −1.64 48.3 Rothera −1.45 76.7 −0.27 18.2 −2.74 46.6 −2.20 27.7 −1.56 56.3 Bellingshausen −1.72 73.2 0.78 35.3 1.78 29.3 −0.54 17.9 0.15 6,5 Orcadas −1.79 69.1 −1.58 44.1 0.78 18.9 −1.11 23.5 −0.85 42.2 Halley-Bay −0.15 5.4 −0.10 1.7 −0.76 12.9 0.22 5.0 −0.15 24.1 Vostok 0.33 9.5 −3.95 77.4 −2.54 26.9 2.00 29.3 −1.11 23.6 Note: the summer season includes December of the preceding year and January-February of the next year, Вх — linear trend coefficient, °С/10 yr; D — dispersion value explained by the linear trend, %.
Estimates of the linear trends of winter air temperature at the Antarctic stations showed the above zero air temperature trends to prevail. However, most of the trend values are insignificant statistically. The statistically significant positive trends are noted in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula and at the Atlantic coast – (Rothera station, 4.6°C/ 60 years and Novolazarevskaya station, 1.4°С/ 56 years) respectively. The negative linear trends for the winter air temperature are detected only in the area of the South Pole, eastern part of the Indian Ocean coast and in the eastern part of the Weddell Sea. These trends are however statistically insignificant. 47
In the spring season, the above zero trends are present almost over the entire territory of Antarctica. The statistically significant trends take place for temperature in the central part of the Indian Ocean coast (Davis station), in the area of the Ross Sea (McMurdo station). At these stations, the air temperature increase was 1.9 and 2.8°С/ for 60 years. In the summer and autumn seasons the statistically significant increase of air temperature is still preserved in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula. At Rothera station, the increase of air temperature in the autumn season was 4.1°С/ 60 years, and at Bellingshausen station – 1.2°С/ 49 years. In the inland regions a positive sign of the trend is also noted. Here, the largest trend value is recorded for the summer temperature at Vostok station, 0.9°С/ 59 years. An insignificant air temperature decrease persists in the central part of the Indian Ocean coast and in the eastern part of the Weddell Sea in the summer and autumn seasons. In general for the mean annual air temperature for the period 1957-2016 at most Antarctic stations there is a positive linear trend. The statistically significant positive trends of mean annual temperature for the entire period are noted in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula (Rothera, 2.6°C/ 60 years), in the area of the Ross Sea (McMurdo, 1.6°С/ 60 years), at the inland Vostok station (0.9°C/ 59 years). Tendencies for the decrease of mean annual air temperature for the period 1957-2016 are observed in the area of the east coast of the Weddell Sea (Halley-Bay station comprising –0.8 °С/ 60 years) and in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean coast (Dumont d’Urville station), but these stations are statistically insignificant. In the last thirty years, almost at all stations of East Antarctica and in the last decade, almost at all stations of Antarctica one observes appearance of the negative linear trend. Thus, the results of monitoring of the thermal regime of Antarctica in 2016 show that appearance of negative tendencies in the last decades (at the background of a long-term tendency for the air temperature increase at most stations) testify to slowing of the warming process in the South Polar Area. 48
Fig. 2.1. Mean monthly and mean annual values of (1) surface air temperatures, their anomalies (2) and normalized anomalies (3) in October (X), November (XI), December (XII) and in general for 2016 (I-XII) from data of stationary meteorological stations in the South Polar Area 49
Fig. 2.2. Interannual variations of anomalies of air temperature and atmospheric pressure at the Russian Antarctic stations, October 50
Fig. 2.3. Interannual variations of anomalies of air temperature and atmospheric pressure at the Russian Antarctic stations, November 51
Fig. 2.4. Interannual variations of anomalies of air temperature and atmospheric pressure at the Russian Antarctic stations, December 52
Fig. 2.5. Values of mean seasonal air temperature anomalies at the Antarctic stations in 2016, °С
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 МО RF, St. Petersburg, 2005/ 53
3. REVIEW OF THE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES OVER THE ANTARCTIC IN OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2016
The period under consideration is quite important for further development of the atmospheric macro-processes above the South Polar Area. At this time the climatic transition from the end of winter to the spring-summer season occurs. In October, the temperature difference close to the maximum between the temperate and high latitudes is preserved and spreading of the Antarctic drifting ice to the north remains to be maximal. Melting of ice and the snow cover and decrease of sea ice area begins in November and actively continues in December, which changes significantly the underlying surface in the polar region and influences changes of the atmospheric circulation above the high latitudes. In October, the intensity of the atmospheric circulation above the temperate and high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere was quite high corresponding to the seasonal-climatic multiyear average. A zonal form of the atmospheric circulation three days larger than the multiyear average was observed and the frequency of occurrence of the meridional forms of circulation was a little less than the multiyear average (Table 3.1). Cyclones both at zonal trajectories and at meridional passages to the shore of Antarctica often deepened to 950–960 hPa, and sometimes to 940 hPa. The most active were the Central Atlantic, Kerguelen, Tasmanian and central Pacific branches of the meridional trajectories of the cyclones. Cyclones persisted more often above the Lazarev, Riiser-Larsen and Cosmonauts, Mawson and Amundsen Seas. At the passage of active cyclones to the Antarctic Seas, one often observed storm weather conditions over the coast of East Antarctica with the wind increase to 25–30 m/s, snowfall and strong snow storm, visibility deterioration to 100 m and less and air temperature increase during 24 h by 10–12○С (for example, at Dumont D’Urville station one observed wind on 5–6 October up to 34 m/s with gusts up to 40 m/s [1]). The frontal divides of cyclones did not penetrate deep inland. The centers of subtropical anticyclones were displaced to the south of their normal position and their active ridges developed far to the south often with formation of independent high pressure cores at latitudes 45–50○ S and in the Pacific Ocean sector sometimes also at latitude 60–65○ S. The Antarctic High was developed within its multiyear average. In spite of a slightly increased duration of the zonal circulation form, the development of active meridional processes has noticeably influenced the formation of mean monthly thermal baric fields and their anomalies. Presence of meridional features in some zonal situations in the form of rapidly displaced meridionally developed ridges and troughs also contributed to this. In the field of anomalies of mean monthly pressure, three extensive sources of positive pressure anomalies were formed at 50–60○ S above the southwestern water areas of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans having formed a three-wave configuration of this field [2]. Therefore, alternation of the areas of positive and negative pressure anomalies was observed over the shore regions of Antarctica. The most significant negative air pressure anomalies (up to −8 hPa) were noted above the coast of the Queen Maud Land and the positive (about +3 hPa, + 4 hPa) — above the Antarctic Peninsula [4]. Active meridional processes contributed to the inter-latitudinal air exchange and outflow of relatively warm air to high latitudes. The above zero air temperature anomalies were recorded over the entire Antarctic coast, the most significant of them (up to 3○С) were observed above the coasts of the Queen Maud Land and Enderby Land. At the same time prolonged zonal processes prevented penetration of warm air masses to the central part of East Antarctica, and small below zero air temperature anomalies were noted above the Polar Plateau. Influence of cyclonic activity over West Antarctica above the Amundsen Sea reached inner regions of Mary Byrd Land. For example, according to AWS data at the inland Byrd station one observed on 5, 15–17 and 21–25 October the wind increase up to 13–20 m/s and air temperature increase from 5○С to 15○С during 24 h at active cyclones passing to the Amundsen Sea resulting in the formation of the above zero air temperature anomaly of more than 2○С in this region. Above the Antarctic Peninsula a zone of outflow of warm air masses (comprising the western periphery of high pressure ridges or the southeastern periphery of cyclones) remained much of the month, where according to data of Bellingshausen station, Esperanza Base and Rothera station [4], the above zero air temperature anomalies were observed. The center of the circumpolar vortex was displaced to the near-pole region (according to data at the 500 and 200 hPa levels) [2]. 54
Table 3.1 Frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms of the Southern Hemisphere and their anomalies (days) in October – December 2016 Frequency of occurrence Anomaly Months Z Ma Mb Z Ma Mb October 16 9 6 3 -2 -1
November 10 15 5 -2 4 -2
December 16 8 7 3 -3 0
In November, there was a significant increase of the frequency of occurrence of meridional processes due to prolonged development of the circulation form Ма of the atmosphere, which was observed during half a month, which is four days greater than the multiyear average. Zonal atmospheric processes developed rarer than the mean multiyear value (Table 3.1). Such development of the atmospheric circulation is not characteristic of the spring period, when one usually observes seasonal weakening of the meridional and increase of duration of zonal processes. Intensity of the atmospheric circulation above the temperate and high latitudes of the southern hemisphere was slightly increased as compared with the climatic level. In addition to zonal trajectories, which passed slightly to the north of the average position, cyclones were displaced more often along the South American, African, Kerguelen, Tasmanian and New Zealand East Pacific Ocean branches. At the exit to the Antarctic continent the cyclones usually persisted over the Davis and Mawson Seas and the Bellingshausen Sea and the southern water area of the Weddell Sea. The subtropical Highs occupied a more southern location as compared to the multiyear average and their centers above the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans were situated to the south of 30○ and sometimes even 40○ S. The ridges of these anticyclones developed far to the south combining sometimes with the ridges of the Antarctic High and often blocking situations were created. This provided conditions for the increased outflow of warm air from temperate to high latitudes. The high pressure ridges developed most actively at meridians of the Central and East Atlantic and the central part of the Pacific Ocean. The Antarctic surface High was significantly intensified. An area of the positive anomalies of mean monthly pressure was formed over the entire South Polar Area and the negative anomalies were noted only above the Antarctic Peninsula. The largest positive anomalies were observed above the Ross Sea (at the coast up to +9 hPa), the Polar Plateau (up to +6 hPa,+9 hPa) and the coasts of the Queen Maud Land and the Adelie Land (about +5 hPa). To the north, above 30–60○ S, a belt of negative air pressure anomalies was formed, being broken above the east of the Pacific Ocean sector and above the Atlantic [2]. The entire South Polar Area was overtaken for the second month in succession with the above zero air ○ ○ temperature anomalies (about +2 С, +3 С over most of the regions). The heat flux reached the near-pole regions where the air temperature exceeded the mean multiyear values by 3○С, 4○С. The air temperature above the Antarctic Peninsula only slightly exceeded the multiyear average. The area of the above zero air temperature anomalies also covered the sub- Antarctic zone: at the South Orkneys Islands and Macquarie Island, the air temperature in November was approximately 1○С higher than the multiyear average [4]. Such prolonged air temperature increase above the Antarctic has made its contribution to the anomalous distribution of drifting ice in the Southern Ocean: the ice edge in November almost everywhere occupied the more southern position as compared with mean multiyear position and the area of Antarctic sea ice was less than the multiyear average [6, “Quarterly Bulletin” No .4 (77), section 4]. The circumpolar vortex was noticeably deformed and displaced to the region of the Atlantic-Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica [2]. In late November, the spring stratospheric modification above the high latitudes was completed and the west wind in the lower stratosphere changed to the east one. The stratospheric summer anticyclone was established above the South Polar Area [7]. In December the frequency of occurrence of the zonal circulation form sharply increased, exceeding the multiyear average by three days (Table 3.1). The thermal baric gradients above the temperate and high latitudes significantly decreased, the intensity of the atmospheric processes was noticeably reduced and the character of the general circulation of the atmosphere has attained a typically summer look. Cyclones in the Antarctic zone had more frequently a depth of 970–990 hPa, rarely deepening to 965 hPa, and only nine cyclones with a depth of less than 960 hPa was noted in total for the whole month in the Antarctic zone. Among the meridional trajectories of cyclones most active were the South-American and West Atlantic, South African, Tasmanian and Central Pacific Ocean branches. Cyclones persisted more often above the Cosmonauts, Commonwealth, D’Urville and Bellingshausen Seas. The Antarctic High was slightly intensified. The ridges of subtropical anticyclones usually developed in the south direction above the eastern water areas of all three oceans and above the Pacific Ocean also in its central part. 55
The distribution of mean monthly thermal baric fields in December had some similarity with the November distribution. The field of mean monthly air pressure has attained a more pronounced zonal configuration. A zone of positive air pressure anomalies (+1 hPa, +3 hPa) was preserved above the South Polar Area, and north of it above 40– 60○ S, there was a belt of negative anomalies that had an extensive break due to the presence of the zone of positive anomalies in the center of the Pacific Ocean sector. The air temperature background over the Antarctic including inland areas and sub-Antarctic islands was still enhanced, while above small regions of the south coasts of the Ross and Weddell Seas, it was within the multiyear average. The increased air temperature during three months above the South Polar Area contributed to further intensive retreat of the drifting ice edge southward and a dramatic decrease of sea ice area, the negative anomaly of which reached its extreme value [6; “Quarterly Bulletin” No .4 (77), section 4]. The circumpolar vortex was displaced like in November to the African sector of East Antarctica.
Fig. 3.1. Diagram of variations of anomalies of the frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms in the Southern Hemisphere (days) in 2016
Assessing the year 2016 in general, one can say that a tendency for intensification of zonal atmospheric processes was preserved in this period. As compared with 2015, the dominance of zonal circulation was not so obvious. However, positive anomalies of zonal circulation form were observed in most months of the year (Fig. 3.1), and the annual anomaly of the frequency of occurrence of form Z comprised +10 days. The annual anomaly of atmosphere circulation form Ма was −21 days and of form Мв +11 days. Thus throughout the year there was a specific displacement of long baric waves as compared with their climatic location. The trajectories of cyclones often passed south of their usual routes. The Antarctic High was weakened much of the year, and negative air pressure anomalies prevailed over the Antarctic. Only in the end of the year (August, November and December) it began to intensify and exceeded the climatic level of development. 56
Fig. 3.2. Diagram of variations of anomalies of the frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms in the Southern Hemisphere (days) and their five-month running averages for the period 2007–2016 (brighter color denotes running averages) Analyzing variations of anomalies of the frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms for the last decade (Fig. 3.2), one can see that the frequency of occurrence of the zonal form was higher than the multiyear average during almost the entire this period. Only in 2010–11 and 2013–14, the frequency of occurrence of zonal processes was over some time below the multiyear average. As to the frequency of occurrence of the meridional forms, of interest is the obviously decreased development of form Ма during the entire past decade. Two brief periods of a small excess of the frequency of occurrence of form Ма of mean multiyear values were observed at the time of weaker zonality. The circulation form Мв during this decade more frequently slightly exceeded the normal duration of development at its periodical decrease below the multiyear average. The year 2016 is very similar to the past decade from the viewpoint of the development of the atmosphere circulation forms: increased zonality, weakened form Ма and active development of form Мв (Figs. 3.1, 3.2). The air temperature background changed its tendency throughout the year. The summer season 2015–16 (December-January) was close to mean multiyear conditions. The transient period to winter (February-April) was colder compared to the multiyear average. At the beginning and in the middle of the Antarctic winter (May-July) the temperature background was different. In August and then from October to December, the above zero air temperature anomalies predominated over the South Polar Area. It is necessary to note that in May 2016, the end of the El-Nino event and the related to it South Oscillation (ENSO) that began at the border of 2014–15, occurred [3, 5].
References:
1. http://www.bom.gov.au/ant/observations/antall.shtml; 2. http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/cmb.cgi; 3. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/ensostuff/ensoyears.shtml; 4. https://legacy.bas.ac.uk/met/READER/surface/stationpt.html; 5.https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/seasonalclimateoutlook/southernoscillationindex/soidatafiles/index.php; 6. http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/; 7. http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/ant.html.
57
4. BRIEF REVIEW OF ICE PROCESSES IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN FROM DATA OF SATELLITE, SHIPBORNE AND COASTAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN 2016
The general tendency for the increase of sea ice area observed in the Antarctic during the last 30 years is still preserved (Fig. 4.1). However in 2016, the sea ice extent of the Southern Ocean was mainly decreased. For the first time in the last 5 years the amount of residual ice by the end of summer in the middle of February did not exceed the multiyear average after the period of melting being approximately less by about 10% (0.3 mln km2). Besides, in winter the Antarctic ice belt was also for the second year in succession developed less than usually — by 0.5 mln km2 (3%).
Fig. 4.1. Change of seasonal extremes of sea ice extent of the Southern Ocean (in deviations from the multiyear average of their mean monthly values in February and September) for the period 1979–2016 [1]
This decrease of sea ice extent is probably connected with the increased flow to the Antarctic zone of the Southern Ocean of warm deep waters of circumpolar origin. The surface “traces” of such flow were detected in ice in the form of extensive southward bends of the ice edge (bays in ice) and diverging zones south of the 65th parallel in the regions of 5○ and 40○ E. As a result, the indications of development of the Weddell polynya south of the Maud Rise (65○ S, 3○ E) appeared inside the ice belt anomalously early already in the middle of August instead of early November. In the Cosmonauts Sea in the area between 65–67○ S and 40–45○ E, an “open sea” polynya similar to the Weddell polynya with an area of more than 30 thousand km2 existed during the entire second part of August. By the classical type of “warm” winters of the period 1996–2006, the ice events developed in the area of the South Shetland Islands. At Bellingshausen station, stable was delayed by 3.5 months and began only in late July and there also was no final freeze up of Ardley Bay (Table 4.1). As a result, the duration of the ice period was only about 3 months instead of half a year according to the multiyear average. 58
Table 4.1 Dates of the onset of main ice phases in the areas of the Russian Antarctic stations in 2016 Landfast ice Ice clearance Ice formation Landfast ice Freeze up Station breakup formation (water body) Start End First Final First Stable First Stable First Final Actual Mirny 22.12.15 07.02 NO1 NO 07.03 07.03 23.03 23.03 17.04 17.04
(roadstead Multiyear 23.12 01.02 12.02 NO 11.03 12.03 30.03 02.04 14.04 17.04 ) avg Actual Progress 27.12.15 20.01 NO NO 04.02 22.02 12.03 12.03 23.04 13.06 (Vostochn Multiyear aya Bay) 30.12 13.01 NO NO 16.02 17.02 06.03 08.03 26.03 26.03 avg Actual Bellingsh 05.09 18.09 19.09 18.10 15.04 29.07 12.07 14.08 15.08 NO ausen Multiyear (Ardley 14.09 13.10 21.10 01.11 12.05 06.06 09.06 17.06 05.07 30.06 Bay) avg Note 1) NO – phenomenon not observed (does not occur).
Even separate coastal regions were distinguished by the enhanced heat. Thus the temperature of the surface sea layer in the vicinity of Progress station has never dropped in winter below −1.8○С (−1.9○С in the mean multiyear data). This has probably contributed to a catastrophic destruction of the front of the local outlet Dolk glacier, which began on 26 February and ended during the period 4 to 28 August by a series of 5 calvings. As a result, the entire area of the glacier bed in the station Vostochnaya Bay was filled with solid glacial mixture. Large and small icebergs and bergy bits and pieces under the conditions of anomalously low air temperatures up to −42○С were frozen together by small glacial and sea ice cake into an obstacle unsurpassable by ship. A significantly decreased background sea ice extent was preserved in the Southern Ocean until the end of the year. The ice cover area has decreased in October from 18.3 to 16.8 mln km2, which is less than the multiyear average by 1 mln km 2 (5%); in November and December — up to record low values of 12.9 and 5.9 mln km 2, respectively, which is less than mean multiyear values by about 20% (about 2 mln km 2). As to the other vivid individual peculiarities of the year, one should note an anomalously developed already from the end of September to the middle of November continuous wedge-like polynya along the northeast coast of the northeast coast of the Antarctic Peninsula in the Weddell Sea, the top of which extended to 69○ S. Due to this recurring polynya in December 1893, the master of the Norwegian whale boat “Jason” K.А. Larsen made here the unrivaled up to now coastal voyage reaching 68○10′ S. During the period of existence of this polynya, the break under of 5-year landfast ice began. It bound the northern (А) bend of the Larsen glacier between Cape Longing and Sills Mountains. At the beginning of December, multiyear landfast ice was completely destroyed. In the Bellingshausen Sea, beginning from November, one observed for the second year in succession the state under pressure up to 9–10 points of the ice belt that blocked the coast. In the vicinity of Russkaya station, drifting ice was vice versa very strongly pressed away from the shore. Besides, no reconstruction of the typical jagged projection of landfast ice destroyed in summer in the area of Cape Burks so far occurred. At the beginning of December, the area of the Weddell polynya represented by a giant zone of very open ice among close ice cover, comprised 0.5 mln km 2. By the middle of the month about 0.5 mln km 2 of ice more has melt, due to which an enormous water area between 60–68○ S and 10○ W – 0○–15○ E (Fig. 4.2) was ice cleared. The Cosmonauts Sea was also distinguished by the decreased (by 40%) sea ice extent. 59
Fig. 4.2. Ice situation in the Southern Ocean in the middle of December 2016
The Ross polynya expanded in the middle of December up to 0.4 mln km2. The Balleny ice massif had as early as never before the extreme western position. As a result, the ice edge between 160–170○ E retreated anomalously far to the south up to 68○ S, and the area of the Balleny Islands was completely ice-cleared. At the same time the ice edge between 150–160○ E reached the 65th parallel where heavy ice from the massif rounded the meridionally elongated zone with increased density of icebergs opposite the Ninnis glacier and penetrated the D’Urville Sea. The drifting ice here concentrated from the east side of the fast ice peninsula at 143○ E, in the basis of which there is a long-living iceberg B09b (a remainder of a giant berg, stuck in the Commonwealth Bay in 2012, which calved from the extreme eastern part of the Great barrier of the Ross ice shelf in 1987. B09b — by the classification of the National Ice Center of the USA). As a result, the D’Urville Sea in late 2016 was distinguished by the increased sea ice extent due to preservation of the drifting ice belt which is not characteristic of it. This highly reminded the situation of three years ago, when the R/V “Akademik Shokalsky” was beset in the indicated drifting ice. Formation of frazil ice at the roadstead of Mirny station did not stop during the whole year, which determined the increased approximately by 20 cm thickness of landfast ice, even in spite of its deep snow cover, which exceeded two-fold the multiyear average (Table 4.2). The increased thickness of landfast ice in the vicinity of Progress station is on the contrary due to a very insignificant snow cover. 60
Table 4.2 Landfast first-year ice thickness and snow depth (in cm) in the areas of the Russian Antarctic stations in 2016 г. Station Parameters M o n t h s II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII Ice Actual - 51 77 104 123 136 149 165 173 168 Mirny Multiyear 22 47 68 84 101 121 139 152 157 145 average Snow Actual - 10 15 14 31 41 33 44 39 27 Multiyear 1 10 15 18 18 19 20 20 22 20 average Ice Actual 47 70 86 110 131 146 164 172 160 - Progress Multiyear 19 32 54 77 97 117 132 145 155 152 135 average Snow Actual 0 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 - Multiyear 1 4 6 8 5 6 7 7 8 4 3 average Bellingshausen Ice - 22 Snow - 15
For discharge of fuel at Progress station instead of Vostochnaya Bay, unsuitable by iceberg situation, the Thala Bay located in 10 km to the west was used for the first time (Fig. 4.3). The traverse vehicles with tanks replenished fuel (Fig. 4.4) on a level segment of the glacier approximately in 600 m from the east shore of the bay at a height of 65 m above sea level (Fig. 4.5). A hose with a length of about 1.5 km was stretched from the R/V “Akademik Fedorov”, which due to decisiveness and skill of the ship master О.G. Kalmykov, penetrated landfast ice of Thala Bay (Fig. 4.6). The delivery of fuel to the station base of fuel-lubricants was made by traverse transporters along a 30-km route with reloading at the final segment to the fuel-servicing truck Ural 5920 to overcome the rocky pass presenting a serious obstacle for cargo machines.
Fig. 4.3. Scheme of fuel discharge at Progress station in Thala Bay on 3–5 January 2017 61
Fig. 4.4. Bunkering of “mobile oil base”
Fig. 4.5. Place of concentration of traverse vehicles with tanks on the glacier
Fig. 4.6. R/V “Akademik Fedorov” in Thala Bay References: 1. http://wdc.aari.ru/datasets/ssmi/data/south/extent/ 62
5. RESULTS OF TOTAL OZONE MEASUREMENTS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN 2016
In 2016, regular measurements of total ozone (TO) at three Russian Antarctic stations Vostok, Mirny and Novolazarevskaya and during cruises of the R/V “Akademik Fedorov” to the Antarctic were continued by the AARI and RAE specialists. Processing and analysis of the information reported from Antarctica were performed. The results of TO monitoring are presented in the quarterly bulletins “State of Antarctic Environment” [1], and in the WMO Antarctic Ozone Bulletins [2]. In the first part of 2016, modification of circulation processes from the summer type to the winter type occurred above the Antarctic as usual at this time of the year. The total ozone over Antarctica was quite stable in the first half of the year at its slight decrease during autumn. Throughout summer and autumn the mean monthly values at all three stations in the Antarctic were higher than in 2015 (Table 5.1, [1]). The destruction of the ozone layer in the Antarctic spring began almost 10 days earlier than in 2015 [2-6]. In August, the ozone hole was larger by area compared to the previous two years. In the first several days of September, the change of the area occurred practically by scenario of 2015 and then its size began to decrease, becoming inferior to the last year size but slightly exceeding the values of 2014. The ozone hole reached its maximum values about 20 mln km2 in the end of September 2016 [3]. In the first part of October its area decreased to 19 mln km2, which corresponds to the average values for the last decade. In the second part of November, the ozone hole began to rapidly shrink and was soon destroyed. Figure 5.1 presents mean daily values of total ozone, calculated for the entire period of observations and for two last Antarctic seasons (from July 2015 to June 2016). Grey color denotes the area including all TO values, observed for the specific day over the entire observation period (upper and lower boundaries of this area correspond to the maximum and minimum boundaries of mean daily TO values).
1 — averaged for the entire observation period mean daily TO values, 2 — mean daily TO values in the season 2016– 2017, 3 — mean daily TO values in the season 2015–2016 Fig. 5.1. Mean daily total ozone values at the Russian Antarctic Mirny, Novolazarevskaya and Vostok stations
One can get acquainted with a more detailed description of TO behavior at the Russian stations during the first three quarters of 2016 in the AARI Quarterly Bulletins [1]. 63
Table 5.1 Statistical characteristics of mean daily TO values (Dobson units) at the Russian Antarctic stations in 2016 January February March April August September October November December Mirny Average 313 303 295 290 271 311 299 367 343 σ 12 18 18 20 78 82 63 31 14 Maximum 341 333 342 330 430 455 402 406 367 Minimum 160 285 263 255 251 183 186 277 319 (08.08) Novolazarevskaya Average 303 284 271 239 235 175 172 276 328 σ 7 10 14 28 31 24 21 55 11 Maximum 314 297 295 291 311 230 222 374 348 Minimum 142 288 255 235 197 193 144 179 311 (26.09) Vostok Average 301 276 274 180 189 335 319 σ 7 13 16 32 46 35 10 Maximum 314 296 312 238 338 367 339 Minimum 120 284 246 248 132 232 301 (09.10)
In spring of 2016, there was a decrease of ozone concentration, which was especially noticeable at Novolazarevskaya and Vostok stations (Fig. 5.1, Table 5.1). The minimum mean daily TO values at the stations in 2016 were observed in different months of the season (Table 5.1). The TO in spring was less stable at all three stations than in 2015. This was especially manifested at Mirny station, where unlike last year (when the development of the ozone hole was not typical for the last years), one observed significant from day-to-day fluctuations of ozone concentration characteristic of this station lately and its significant higher values compared to the other stations in the spring period. Such TO dynamics at this station can be attributed to a smaller stability of a circumpolar vortex in 2016 and a frequent change of air masses with a different ozone concentration above this territory. Mean monthly TO values at all three stations from August (when observations begin after the polar night) and until the end of the year were comparable (in August and September at Novolazarevskaya station) and higher than in 2015 (Table 5.1, [1]). The TO measurements were also carried out onboard the R/V “Akademik Fedorov” during her cruises to the Antarctic and back. Figure 5.2 presents the TO values measured onboard the ship and the corresponding coordinates of the ship.
1 – TO, 2- latitude, 3- longitude Fig. 5.2. Latitudinal variations of total ozone concentration onboard the R/V “Akademik Fedorov”
One can observe the absence of significant latitudinal TO variability in December-March (at the route to Antarctica and during the period of ship navigation in Antarctic waters) and the presence of dependence of TO increase 64 on the change of latitude in autumn in the Southern and correspondingly in spring in the Northern Hemisphere (especially in the latitudes north of 30° N at the return route of the research vessel). This is connected with the character of TO variability within the year in temperate latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, where the maximum in the annual variations is observed in spring and the minimum — in autumn.
References: 1. Quarterly Bulletin “State of Antarctic Environment. Operational data of the Russian Antarctic stations”. SI AARI, Russian Antarctic Expedition. 2015–2016, No. 1–4; 2. Antarctic Ozone Bulletin, 2015–2016, No.1–6 http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/arep/gaw/ozone/index.html; 3. http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/met; 4. http://ozone-watch.gsfc.nasa.gov/; 5. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/; 6. http://www.temis.nl/protocols/o3hole/.
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6. GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2016
Analysis of geophysical materials of Antarctic stations for the 4th quarter of 2016
Brief characteristics of solar activity The entire period October to December 2016 is characterized by low solar activity. The number of sun spots for this period ranged from 20 to 70. The solar radio-emission flux at the wavelength of 10.7 cm had very low values from 70 to 110 W/m2. The storm magnetic activity during the fourth quarter was also very low. During the period under consideration only one magnetic storm was observed on 13–15 October, when the Dst - index value, which characterizes the world magnetic storms reached 100 nT, and the solar radio-emission flux increased to 110 W/m2, that is, to its maximum value during the period under consideration. However at low solar activity connected with a small number of sun spots, high-speed fluxes were observed in the solar wind during the entire period with a clear about 14-day frequency of occurrence. The solar wind speed comprised sometimes ~ 700 кm/s. At the time of each passage of the fluxes of high-speed charged solar wind particles through the magnetosphere and its interaction with these fluxes the degree of the magnetic field perturbation in the auroral zone (auroral magnetic activity) slightly intensified and the amount of energy penetrating to the magnetosphere increased. But the planetary index of magnetic perturbation Кр does not practically exceed the values of 4+. Hence the degree of magnetic perturbation in the period under consideration was not high and can be characterized only as moderate. The amount of energy incoming to the magnetosphere from solar wind is characterized by the РС – index developed at the AARI Department of Geophysics and adopted in August 2013 at the 12th session of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) as a new international index of magnetic activity. Its values are calculated in the Department of Geophysics in real time and are presented in the form of a plot at the AARI site. The РС-index values exceeding 2 mV/m, determine the periods of increased sub-storm activity in the auroral zone (auroral magnetic activity) and increases of perturbation of the magnetosphere. Figure 6.1 shows the diagram of РС-index for the period October through December. On this diagram, the increased values of РС-index clearly identify all periods of the magnetosphere passage through fluxes of high energy solar wind fluxes.
Fig. 6.1. РС-index diagram for the period October to December 2016
Analysis of geomagnetic data
Observations of the level of perturbation of the Earth’s Magnetic Field (EMF) in the fourth quarter of 2016 were carried out at Vostok, Novolazarevskaya, Mirny and Progress stations under a standard program. 66
As shown by the data analysis for the fourth quarter of 2016 and a comparison of the results of four quarters of this year, the quality of absolute observations was significantly improved at all stations. The largest mean quadratic deviation of basis values was recorded at Novolazarevskaya station. By the Н-component the Earth’s Magnetic Field (EMF) it was ±30.54 nT. At Novolazarevskaya station, it is necessary to urgently replace the variation station the unsuitability of which for further work is obvious. This was noted several times in the quarterly reports of the Department of Geophysics as well as the causes of poor functioning of variation instruments at this station. The best results were obtained at Vostok station by all three components D, H, Z — 0.2017 deg, 3.25 nT and 2.03 nT, respectively. This result can be considered good. At Progress and Mirny stations, the values are slightly higher, but can also be assessed as good. The average for the quarter absolute values of the EMF components are calculated from data of 12–17 measurements, which are carried out during each quarter when determining the basis values of variation stations. Each of the obtained values includes not only the value of the main Earth’s magnetic field, but also the value of the field of magnetic variations that occurred at the time of conducting absolute measurements. For this reason the changes of mean quarterly absolute EMF values do not have a definite trend and can differ significantly between each other both by the numerical expression and by the sign. An analysis of the data of absolute values of the magnetic field components, obtained during the entire year will make it possible to assess the degree of their variability and error of the estimate of their mean annual values. The mean annual absolute values of the Earth’s magnetic field components at the Antarctic stations are presented in Table 6.1. Table 6.1 Mean annual absolute values of the EMF components EMF components Station D H Z
Mirny −88.7252 13590.65 −57707.13
Novolazarevskaya −29.7786 18557.88 −34328.13
Vostok −124.2690 13631.41 −57773.72
Progress −79.6131 16981.53 −50891.02
As can be seen from the Table above, the magnetic field at Novolazarevskaya station differs significantly by the force components from the magnetic field of other Antarctic stations. Analysis of data of vertical sounding of ionosphere at Mirny station
During the period under consideration October through December the ionosphere at Mirny station in Antarctica was constantly illuminated by the Sun’s UV emission at the F-layer level. On the diagram of reflections from the F2 layer in October there are no data only at the time of the geomagnetic storm on 13–15 October 2016, when a high global magnetic (Dst ≤ −100 nT) and auroral perturbation (PC > 6) continued until 17 October. Processing of ionograms in such storm periods becomes more difficult due to the fact that the diffuse reflections do not have the critical frequencies of delay in the F layer. In November, a weaker global (storm) magnetic activity (values of Dst ~ −40 nT) and auroral activity (PC < 5) were observed. Under such conditions of weak perturbation there were no large disruptions in the processing of ionospheric parameters. December was the most quiet by geomagnetic data month (Dst ~ −20 nT). The PC-index values were not higher than 4. The illumination by UV emission of the ionosphere at Mirny station in December was maximum. The day and night data of critical F2-layer frequencies for December are fully presented in the diagrams. Thus, the ionosphere data show that the ionosphere processes are closely connected with the seasonal variability and with magnetic perturbations occurring in the Earth’s magnetosphere. The analysis of performance of the ionosphere station of Mirny station based on the data obtained, showed that the instruments functions without failure. The observations made correspond to the observation program.
67
Analysis of riometer data A monthly set of the maximum (for each 24 h) absorption values was analyzed. The analysis presents an assessment of the work of riometers in general and the classification of riometer absorption increases depending on the factors influencing these increases. The increases with the amplitude greater than 0.5 dB were analyzed. The main abbreviations used in the analysis, are as follows: SPE (solar proton event) — a phenomenon of the increase of solar proton fluxes after strong solar bursts, registered in the interplanetary space and in the Earth’s magnetosphere; fluxes of protons with the energy of 10 MeV (in the integral measurement of F> 10 MeV) make the largest contribution to the absorption; during the analysis such SPE 2 were considered, which had the maximum intensity of Fmax (Ep> 10 MeV) ≥ 1 particle/cm *s *steradian. Exactly at such intensity the PCA type absorption with the amplitude higher than 0.5 dB begins its manifestation. PCA (type of polar cap absorption) — a phenomenon of anomalous increase of absorption determined by solar proton fluxes during the SPE. AA (auroral absorption) — a phenomenon of anomalous increase of absorption determined by fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of global or local geomagnetic perturbations. GA (geomagnetic activity) — level of geomagnetic field perturbation. GP (geomagnetic perturbation) — a phenomenon of the increase of geomagnetic activity; intensity of GP is assessed by the Кр index, which reflects a global character of geomagnetic perturbation; as a significant geomagnetic perturbation, the periods were considered where Кр≥20, exactly at such intensity, the AA type absorptions with the amplitude higher than 0.5 dB begin to be manifested. QDC (quiet day curve) — a non-perturbed level of the space noise registered by riometer. It is determined by a special algorithm. BA (background absorption) — stable increased or decreased absorption, which is approximately the same for several days, determined by unstable performance of riometer. BV (background variations) — periodic (daily) absorption variations with the amplitude of 0.2–0.4 dB; the BV are determined by drawbacks of processing, due to inaccuracy of QDC selection; the BV often have a sinusoid shape but in some cases differ significantly from it. The absorption increases of the impulse character can be caused by the global factors (SPE and GP), or the local factors (local increase of geomagnetic activity, increase of the level of interference or malfunction of riometer work). The prolonged increased (or decreased) similar absorption values can be caused by riometer fault (BA) or inaccuracy of the QDC (BV). The Internet data on the fluxes of solar protons (with the energy of 1–100 MeV) and on the level of geomagnetic activity (Кр index) were used in the analysis. The maximum for the day absorption values were compared with variations of every minute absorption values presented at the site of the Department of Geophysics of the AARI.
October No SPE phenomena were registered during the month. Five periods of geomagnetic perturbations were registered with the maximums on 4, 10, 13, 16, 25 October (Кр indexes are equal to 5−, 30 , 60 , 4+ and 40, respectively). Vostok (32 MHz). Significant increases of absorption are absent during the month. Mirny (32 MHz). From 12 October to the end of the month, one observes increased background absorption of about 0.5–0.7 dB. Probably, the cause of background absorption is processing inaccuracy. At this background, three periods of sharp absorption increase were registered with the maximums on 1, 17 and 26 October (amplitudes Аmax = 2.2 dB, 1.9 and 1.7 dB, respectively), which are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level. Progress (32 MHz). During the month, one observes five absorption increases with the maximums: on 2, 16, 23, 25 and 30 October (amplitudes, Аmax = 1.8, 9.5, 1.0, 2.6 and 2.0 dB, respectively, which are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level. Novolazarevskaya (32 MHz). During the month, one observes eight periods of the increased absorption level with the maximums: on 4, 8, 10, 14, 17, 23, 25 and 29 October (amplitudes at the rangе Аmax = from 1.9 to 7.8 dB). The increases are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level.
68
November No SPE phenomena were registered during the month. Three prolonged periods of geomagnetic perturbations with two maximums were registered in each period on 1 and 3, 10 and 13, 23 and 25 November (values of Кр index = 4+ and 40, 4+ and 4+ , 40 and 50). Vostok (32 MHz). There are no significant (more than 0.5 dB) absorption increases during the month. In the second part of the month, one observes absorption variations at the range of 0.2–0.5 dB with periods of 3–7 days. Mirny (32 MHz). From 1 to 17 and from 27 to 30 November, one observes increased background absorption of about 0.5–0.7 dB. Three periods of absorption increase are registered with the maximums on 13, 19 and 26 November (amplitudes Аmax = 1.5, 2.7 and 1.0 dB, respectively), which are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level. Progress (32 MHz). During the month one observes five absorption increases with the maximums: on 2, 13, 18, 25 and 27 November (amplitudes Аmax = 1.6, 1.7, 1.1, 1.1 and 0.8 dB, respectively), which are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level. Novolazarevskaya (32 MHz). During the whole month one observed increased background absorption of about 0.5 dB. At this background a series of absorption increases was registered with the maximums on 3, 6, 9, 13, 19, 21, 25 and 28 November (amplitudes at the range Аmax = from 1.1 to 3.8 dB). These increases are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA.
December No SPE phenomena were registered during the month. Three prolonged periods of geomagnetic perturbations are observed with the maximums on 9, 18 and 21 December (values of Кр index = 4+ , 30 and 60, respectively). Vostok (32 MHz). There are no significant (more than 0.5 dB) absorption increases during the month. From 13 to 28, one observes absorption variations at the range of values of 0.2–0.5 dB with periods of 3–5 days. Mirny (32 MHz). During the month one observes five periods of increased absorption level with duration of 2– 5 days with the maximums on 4, 10, 16, 21 and 26 December (amplitudes Аmax = 0.8, 1.2, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.1 dB, respectively). The absorption increases are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level. Progress (32 MHz). Two periods on increased absorption are observed during the month from 6 to 11 with the maximums on 8 and 11 (amplitudes, Аmax = 1.5 and 1.2 dB, respectively), and from 17 to 28 December with the maximums on 9, 21, 24 (amplitudes, Аmax = 0.9, 1.2 and 0.9 dB, respectively), which are AA. The periods are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level. Novolazarevskaya (32 MHz). One observes in the first part of the month a stable absorption increase until 10 December (amplitude Аmax = 4.0 dB) and a rapid drop to small values on 13–16 December (amplitude Аmax = 0.5–1.0 dB). In the second part of the month, one observes a series of sharp absorption increases on 17, 20, 23, 26 and 31 December (with the maximums Аmax = 6.3, 1.7, 4.0, 4.5 and 4 dB, respectively). All dramatic increases are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA. The total monthly trend of the absorption trend correlates well with the change of global geomagnetic activity.
Conclusions During the period under consideration, no PCA phenomena were registered. Numerous AA phenomena were registered at all stations except for Vostok station. The work of riometers for the period under consideration is characterized as follows: 1. At Vostok station, the riometer functioned normally; 2. At Mirny station, the riometer functioned normally; 3. At Progress station, the riometer functioned normally; 4. At Novolazarevskaya station, the riometer functioned normally. 69
DATA OF CURRENT OBSERVATIONS
MIRNY STATION
Mean monthly absolute values of the geomagnetic field
Horizontal Vertical Declination component component October 88º41.6´W 13593 nT −5736 nT November 88º42.1´W 13557 nT −57743 nT December 88º48.4´W 13578 nT −57704 nT
Basis values of IZMIRAN variometer
Date D deg H, nT Z, nT 06.10.2016 −88.7574 13882.71 −57632.31 12.10.2016 −88.7793 13881.11 −57627.88 18.10.2016 −88.7780 13884.06 −57629.12 22.10.2016 −88.7126 13883.40 −57623.51 28.10.2016 −88.7110 13876.14 −57641.50 03.11.2016 −88.7283 13878.95 −57628.47 10.11.2016 −88.6675 13871.53 −57627.76 18.11.2016 −88.7514 13877.36 −57637.50 25.11.2016 −88.7848 13881.16 −57625.77 30.11.2016 −88.7516 13875.73 −57646.33 07.12.2016 −88.7207 13874.40 −57641.50 14.12.2016 −88.8030 13878.02 −57640.28 19.12.2016 −88.7757 13875.88 −57637.78 25.12.2016 −88.7322 13867.59 −57640.84 30.12.2016 −88.7730 13883.30 −57633.94 Average −88.7484 13878.09 −57634.30 values RMSD 0.0361 4.73 7.01
70
Fig. 6.2. Maximum daily values of space radio-emission absorption at the 32 MHz frequency from data of riometer observations at Mirny station 71
Fig. 6.3. Daily values of critical frequencies of the F2 (f°F2)-layer at Mirny station
72
NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION
Mean monthly absolute values of the geomagnetic field
Horizontal Vertical Declination component component October 29º45.6´W 18552 nT −34319 nT November 29º46.4´W 18554 nT −34315 nT December 29º46.7´W 18556 nT −34296 nT
Basis values of IZMIRAN variometer
Date D deg H, nT Z, nT 07.10.2016 −29.7688 18507.35 −34485.01 12.10.2016 −29.7831 18512.43 −34486.15 18.10.2016 −29.7858 18499.32 −34487.78 20.10.2016 −29.7914 18503.28 −34487.09 31.10.2016 −29.7898 18568.29 −34488.58 04.11.2016 −29.7774 18563.85 −34486.68 07.11.2016 −29.7785 18558.60 −34486.37 15.11.2016 −29.7914 18545.11 −34489.87 19.11.2016 −29.7935 18505.19 −34487.70 28.11.2016 −29.7917 18457.85 −34509.85 04.12.2016 −29.7827 18517.36 −34490.99 12.12.2016 −29.7816 18503.45 −34479.75 16.12.2016 −29.7973 18532.06 −34489.94 27.12.2016 −29.7339 18532.36 −34489.79 30.12.2016 −29.7949 18486.86 −34487.65 Average −29.7828 18519.56 −34488.88 values RMSD 0.0156 30.54 6.39
73
Fig. 6.4. Maximum daily values of space radio-emission absorption at the 32 MHz frequency from data of riometer observations at Novolazarevskaya station 74
PROGRESS STATION
Mean monthly absolute values of the geomagnetic field
Horizontal Vertical Declination component component October 79º39.6´W 16970 nT −50893 nT November 79º39.4´W 16997 nT −50898 nT December 79º39.3´W 16996 nT −50880 nT
Basis values of LEMI-022 variometer
Date D deg H, nT Z, nT 04.10.2016 −78.8744 135.43 −34.11 07.10.2016 −78.8800 134.01 −34.10 11.10.2016 −78.8836 137.25 −33.98 17.10.2016 −78.8811 124.71 −39.31 20.10.2016 −78.8769 122.68 −41.13 30.10.2016 −78.8581 135.47 −32.81 31.10.2016 −78.8597 137.11 −31.88 04.11.2016 −78.9097 152.23 −26.30 07.11.2016 −78.9083 156.87 −23.76 16.11.2016 −78.8664 121.71 −42.62 19.11.2016 −78.8683 119.35 −43.04 30.11.2016 −78.8956 136.73 −33.43 03.12.2016 −78.8936 138.28 −32.82 12.12.2016 −78.8858 134.54 −34.89 16.12.2016 −78.8750 137.10 −34.16 28.12.2016 −78.8697 135.59 −35.34 30.12.2016 −78.8767 133.75 −35.04 Average −78.8802 134.87 −34.63 values RMSD 0.0149 9.63 5.02
75
Fig. 6.5. Maximum daily values of space radio-emission absorption at the 32 MHz frequency from data of riometer observations at Progress station 76
VOSTOK STATION
Mean monthly absolute values of the geomagnetic field
Horizontal Vertical Declination component component October 124º26.7´W 13669 nT −57756 nT November 124º27.6´W 13633 nT −57764 nT December 124º18.8´W 13668 nT −57781 nT
Basis values of IZMIRAN variometer
Date D deg H nT Z nT 02.10.2016 −123.9386 13677.88 −57868.71 06.10.2016 −123.9783 13675.63 −57869.69 12.10.2016 −123.9733 13676.82 −57868.90 19.10.2016 −123.9664 13677.45 −57870.20 28.10.2016 −123.9314 13681.96 −57868.75 02.11.2016 −123.9336 13684.38 −57868.18 05.11.2016 −123.9536 13681.00 −57868.63 15.11.2016 −124.0092 13680.13 −57867.52 19.11.2016 −123.9628 13683.57 −57867.86 26.11.2016 −123.9444 13687.55 −57874.80 30.11.2016 −123.9842 13682.60 −57870.60 04.12.2016 −123.9592 13684.12 −57870.10 12.12.2016 −123.9653 13680.65 −57871.41 16.12.2016 −123.9722 13681.63 −57870.26 21.12.2016 −123.9903 13677.59 −57872.72 28.12.2016 −123.9847 13679.01 −57872.94 Average −123.9655 13680.75 −57870.08 values RMSD 0.0217 3.25 2.03
77
Fig. 6.6. Maximum daily values of space radio-emission absorption at the 32 MHz frequency from data of riometer observations at Vostok station
78
7. SEISMIC OBSERVATIONS IN ANTARCTICA IN 2015
In 2015, seismic observations in Antarctica which have been carried out from 1962 were continued at the stationary Novolazarevskaya station of the RAS Geophysical Service (GS). The observations were carried out by a three-component broadband seismometer in a set with a 16-charge digital seismic station SDAS, developed and produced by the GS RAS (Obninsk) jointly with the Scientific-Production Association "Geotekh” [1]. These instruments with a bandwidth of 0.04–5 Hz, a sampling rate of 20 readouts a second and a dynamic range of about 90 dB allow applying a modern digital level of collection, storage and processing of seismic records [2]. The digital records of earthquakes were computer-processed and were archived on compact-disks, which upon the return of the expeditions were passed to the archive of GS RAS. Processing of digital records of earthquakes at Novolazarevskaya station was carried out in accordance with the methodologies [4, 5] by means of the WSG software, developed by the GS RAS [3] and included identification of arrivals of seismic waves, determination of the time and precision of arrivals, identification of seismic waves and determination of the main parameters of earthquakes (time in the source, distance to the epicenter and magnitude). The interpretation results were recorded in the electronic database, on the basis of which daily operational reports were prepared and sent to the Information-Processing Center (IPC) of GS RAS. These data were used for summary processing of earthquakes in preparation of decadal Seismological Bulletins of GS RAS [6]. From 1 January to 31 December 2015, Novolazarevskaya station registered 6027 arrivals of seismic events. During the period 1 January to 15 March 2015, full processing was performed with determination of the main source parameters for 167 earthquakes (A.A. Kalinkin, seismologist of the 59th RAE). During the period 18 March to 31 December due to problems with the equipment, full processing with determination of the main source parameters was performed only for 96 earthquakes. Due to technical reasons (synchronization of digital watch with precise time was rarely made), most data cannot be referenced to precise time. Therefore, data of Novolazarevskaya station were used at RAS GS in 2015 only for summary processing of 186 earthquakes, of them 33 — with MPSP6.0, including 11 — with MPSP6.5 (Table 7.1). Table 7.1 presents main parameters of strong earthquakes of 2015, based on the data of Seismological Bulletins [6], and it is shown, which of them were registered at Novolazarevskaya station. Table 7.1 Earthquakes with a magnitude MPSP6.0, recorded at Novolazarevskaya station from 01.01 to 31.12.2015 No. Date Time at the Epicenter Depth MPSP Region Epicentral dd.mm source coordinates h, km distance to (by Greenwich) station NVL (, , , hh:mm:ss ) 1 19.01 17:19:44.6 4.74 119.66 10 6.1 Sangihe Islands –2) 2 23.01 03:47:26.7 −17.00 168.46 224 6.3 Vanuatu (New Hebrides) 90.963) 3 28.01 02:43:20.4 −20.91 −178.42 498 6.1 West of Tonga 88.29 4 31.01 12:29:32.8 15.38 146.92 30 6.1 Region of Marianas Islands – 5 02.02 10:49:49.8 −32.42 −67.25 182 6.1 Mendoza Province, Argentina 56.19 6 11.02 18:57:21.1 −22.74 −66.74 205 6.2 Jujuy Province, Argentina – 7 13.02 18:59:10.1 52.60 −31.95 11 6.4 North-Atlantic Ridge – 8 16.02 22:00:52.2 −55.53 −28.35 10 6.0 Region of the South Sandwich Islands 23.06 9 16.02 23:06:27.6 39.91 142.91 31 6.4 East coast of Honshu 140.39 10 17.02 04:46:37.6 40.13 141.98 49 6.0 East coast of Honshu 140.43 11 18.02 09:32:26.8 −10.64 164.04 14 6.0 Solomon Islands 96.61 12 19.02 13:18:35.7 −16.35 168.10 37 6.5 Vanuatu (New Hebrides) 91.56 13 20.02 04:25:22.3 39.93 143.55 12 6.1 Near the east coast of Honshu 140.60 14 22.02 14:23:14.5 18.72 −106.79 23 6.0 Near the coast of Jalisco, Mexico – 15 27.02 13:45:04.8 −7.20 122.57 555 6.6 Flores Sea 89.94 16 03.03 10:37:28.3 −0.76 98.76 28 6.2 South Sumatra 88.27 17 07.03 13:18:22.6 50.41 −173.36 10 6.0 Andreanof Islands 159.43 18 17.03 22:12:27.4 1.72 126.41 41 6.3 Moluccan Strait 99.55 19 20.03 15:42:52.3 −4.71 154.77 29 6.2 Solomon Islands – 20 23.03 04:51:39.2 −18.22 −69.14 138 6.2 Northern Chile 69.97 21 28.03 16:36:52.8 −21.95 −68.42 101 6.1 Northern Chile – 22 29.03 23:48:29.8 −4.67 152.54 40 6.2 Region of New Britain 100.33 23 16.04 18:07:46.6 35.25 26.79 25 6.0 Crete Island – 24 20.04 01:42:57.2 24.28 122.48 35 6.0 Region of Taipei – 25 22.04 22:57:11.4 −11.93 166.38 42 6.3 Santa-Cruz Islands 95.69 26 24.04 03:36:41.1 −42.08 172.99 46 6.1 South Island, New Zealand 66.64 27 25.04 06:11:23.6 28.19 84.73 10 6.8 Nepal – 79
No. Date Time at the Epicenter Depth MPSP Region Epicentral dd.mm source coordinates h, km distance to (by Greenwich) station NVL (, , , hh:mm:ss ) 28 25.04 06:45:19.0 28.21 84.82 10 6.6 Nepal – 29 26.04 07:09:08.9 27.76 86.01 25 6.6 Nepal – 30 30.04 10:45:03.8 −5.15 151.63 44 6.3 Region of New Britain – 31 01.05 08:06:01.4 −5.11 151.73 36 6.4 Region of New Britain – 32 05.05 01:44:02.2 −5.46 151.91 34 6.4 Region of New Britain +4) 33 07.05 07:10:19.0 −7.14 154.50 11 6.8 Solomon Islands + 34 08.05 03:12:19.1 1.57 97.90 39 6.1 North Sumatra + 35 12.05 07:05:16.9 27.81 86.10 13 6.9 Nepal 111.00 36 12.05 07:36:51.8 27.53 86.09 17 6.3 Nepal – 37 12.05 21:12:56.4 38.97 142.01 31 6.8 East coast of Honshu 139.25 38 18.05 17:04:56.7 −6.78 154.43 35 6.0 Solomon Islands – 39 19.05 15:25:21.5 −54.44 −131.91 10 6.0 South-Pacific Rise 52.43 40 20.05 22:48:52.7 −10.89 164.10 20 6.1 Region of Santa-Cruz Islands 96.38 41 24.05 04:53:21.8 −16.70 −14.18 10 6.0 South-Atlantic Ridge 56.30 42 29.05 07:00:06.5 56.81 −156.74 62 6.9 Alaska Peninsula 165.15 43 30.05 11:23:02.0 27.85 140.50 692 7.3 Region of the Bonin Islands 128.45 44 30.05 18:49:06.4 30.82 143.02 15 6.5 South of Honshu 131.96 45 11.06 04:51:23.4 39.66 143.36 23 6.0 Near the east coast of Honshu – 46 12.06 11:07:04.9 −15.54 −173.13 31 6.0 Tonga + 47 17.06 12:51:30.3 −35.41 −17.70 10 6.4 South-Atlantic Ridge 38.77 48 20.06 02:10:09.5 −36.33 −73.58 33 6.0 Coast of Central Chile 54.69 49 23.06 12:18:29.1 27.59 139.78 475 6.2 Region of the Bonin Islands – 50 24.06 22:32:19.0 61.75 −152.18 118 6.0 South Alaska – 51 30.06 03:39:26.1 −5.27 151.50 33 6.0 Region of New Britain – 52 01.07 19:35:25.4 −10.88 162.47 51 6.0 Solomon Islands – 53 03.07 01:07:44.9 37.43 78.14 22 6.1 Province of South Hinjiang – 54 03.07 06:43:19.0 10.07 125.81 33 6.2 Leite – 55 07.07 05:10:25.6 44.06 148.07 43 6.7 Area of the Kuril Islands + 56 10.07 04:12:42.0 −9.23 158.24 21 6.5 Solomon Islands – 57 16.07 15:16:31.4 13.90 −58.61 17 6.3 North Atlantic Ocean – 58 17.07 18:49:53.0 −18.00 −178.27 538 6.0 West of Tonga – 59 18.07 02:27:32.5 −10.30 165.04 17 6.4 Santa-Cruz Islands – 60 26.07 07:05:05.7 −9.00 112.68 42 6.1 South of Java – 61 27.07 04:49:44.2 52.38 −169.69 24 6.5 Fox Islands – 62 27.07 21:41:18.5 −2.64 138.50 42 6.7 West Irian – 63 29.07 00:10:22.9 8.17 −77.50 15 6.1 Panama-Columbia border area – 64 29.07 02:35:57.5 60.05 −153.43 124 6.0 South Alaska – 65 06.08 23:59:44.3 −26.44 −178.38 271 6.1 South of Fiji – 66 10.08 04:12:13.7 −9.19 157.79 20 6.4 Solomon Islands – 67 12.08 18:49:23.5 −9.30 157.64 14 6.1 Solomon Islands – 68 15.08 07:47:06.5 −10.85 163.70 21 6.1 Solomon Islands – 69 17.08 14:42:30.6 21.88 146.61 10 6.0 Region of Mariana Islands – 70 20.08 11:00:06.6 0.57 126.56 40 6.0 Moluccan Strait – 71 02.09 01:18:29.0 4.36 124.63 321 6.0 Celebes Sea – 72 13.09 08:14:10.6 25.16 −109.33 12 6.1 California Bay – 73 16.09 07:40:54.8 1.91 126.38 30 6.3 Moluccan Strait – 74 16.09 22:54:31.5 −31.56 −71.58 26 6.5 Coast of Central Chile + 75 16.09 23:03:57.1 −31.70 −71.74 38 6.1 Coast of Central Chile – 76 16.09 23:18:41.3 −31.45 −71.44 33 6.6 Coast of Central Chile – 77 16.09 23:38:03.3 −31.72 −71.90 34 6.0 Near the coast of Central Chile – 78 17.09 03:55:16.5 −31.15 −71.21 33 6.1 Coast of Central Chile – 79 17.09 04:10:27.8 −31.48 −71.59 38 6.4 Coast of Central Chile – 80 21.09 05:39:34.0 −31.52 −71.56 32 6.2 Coast of Central Chile – 81 21.09 17:39:59.8 −31.37 −71.37 35 6.4 Coast of Central Chile – 82 22.09 07:12:59.1 −31.20 −71.17 51 6.1 Coast of Central Chile – 83 24.09 15:53:27.2 −0.60 131.18 28 6.6 Region of West Irian – 84 24.09 15:56:55.2 −10.21 160.54 38 6.3 Solomon Islands – 85 26.09 02:51:15.9 −30.75 −71.31 35 6.2 Coast of Central Chile – 86 01.10 00:04:59.8 −5.85 103.86 42 6.1 South Sumatra – 87 03.10 06:26:53.8 −30.21 −71.34 30 6.0 Coast of Central Chile – 88 05.10 16:33:25.2 −30.13 −71.37 31 6.1 Coast of Central Chile – 89 20.10 21:52:00.4 −14.82 167.29 137 6.6 Vanuatu (New Hebrides) 92.96 80
No. Date Time at the Epicenter Depth MPSP Region Epicentral dd.mm source coordinates h, km distance to (by Greenwich) station NVL (, , , hh:mm:ss ) 90 26.10 09:09:31.5 36.49 70.82 215 7.4 Hindu Kush + 91 01.11 15:16:15.1 −23.19 −68.43 100 6.0 North Chile – 92 02.11 08:15:35.5 51.78 −173.35 40 6.1 Andreanof Islands – 93 04.11 03:44:14.4 −8.38 124.91 33 6.3 Timor – 94 07.11 07:31:40.7 −30.89 −71.41 40 6.8 Coast of Central Chile – 95 07.11 07:04:32.0 −29.59 −72.40 10 6.0 Near the coast of Central Chile – 96 07.11 10:53:42.5 −30.78 −71.33 40 6.0 Coast of Central Chile – 97 08.11 09:34:55.3 0.73 98.95 80 6.3 North Sumatra – 98 08.11 16:46:59.0 6.84 94.45 10 6.3 Area of Nicobar Islands – 99 09.11 16:03:43.2 51.84 −172.90 10 6.0 Andreanof Islands – 100 11.11 01:54:38.0 −29.54 −71.99 10 6.4 Coast of Central Chile – 101 11.11 02:46:20.9 −29.60 −72.00 10 6.3 Near the coast of Central Chile – 102 11.11 11:45:21.6 −8.73 110.36 80 6.2 Java – Province of Santiago d’Estero, 103 13.11 06:04:12.9 −29.95 −64.57 10 6.2 – Argentina 104 13.11 20:51:32.7 31.00 128.75 10 6.6 East-China Sea – 105 14.11 19:20:21.0 31.33 128.65 25 6.0 East-China Sea – 106 17.11 07:10:06.7 38.89 20.45 10 6.1 Greece – 107 18.11 18:31:02.3 −8.88 158.33 10 6.6 Solomonov Islands – 108 21.11 09:06:08.5 −7.16 129.94 60 6.2 Banda Sea – 109 22.11 18:16:03.6 36.52 71.63 100 6.1 Afghanistan–Tajikistan border area – 110 24.11 13:21:34.8 18.73 145.25 600 6.3 Mariana Islands – 111 24.11 22:45:35.9 −10.58 −70.95 600 7.3 Peru-Brazil border area – 112 24.11 22:50:51.0 −10.11 −71.15 600 7.2 Peru-Brazil border area – 113 26.11 05:45:17.2 −9.13 −71.31 600 6.3 Peru-Brazil border area – 114 27.11 21:00:22.6 −24.84 −70.77 33 6.0 Coast of North Chile 64.35 115 28.11 02:51:05.3 43.27 146.64 75 6.2 Kuril Islands – 116 04.12 22:24:51.3 −47.70 85.25 10 6.7 South-East Indian Ridge 40.57 117 07.12 07:50:06.1 38.34 72.84 33 6.8 Tajikistan 117.17 118 09.12 10:21:47.2 −4.24 129.38 33 6.9 Banda Sea 94.79 119 17.12 19:49:54.1 16.04 −93.21 100 6.5 Chiapas, Mexico – 120 20.12 18:47:37.0 3.68 117.78 33 6.2 Kalimantan (Borneo) 98.69 121 25.12 19:14:43.9 36.42 71.22 190 6.8 Afghanistan–Tajikistan border area + Total registered earthquakes with MPSP6.0 41 Total earthquakes participating in summary processing with MPSP6.0 33 Notes: 1) MPSP magnitude — characteristic of the earthquake force, which is calculated from measurements of amplitudes and the periods in the maximum phase of the longitudinal Р wave on the records short period instruments (SP — short period), corresponds to the international magnitude mb. 2) “–“ — results of processing of the given earthquake are absent in the station log. 3) 90.96 (Epicentral distance in degrees) – shown for parameters of the sources, in the summary processing of which this station participated. 4) “+” — the station log has the results of earthquake processing and they are not included to summary processing due to different causes.
Most of the epicenters of earthquakes recorded at Novolazarevskaya station are situated in the Southern Hemisphere in the areas within the Pacific Ocean seismic belt [7], a significant number is located in the territory of Indonesia, Vanuatu, New Zealand, South America, South Sandwich Islands, Solomon Islands, Santa-Cruz Islands Atlantic and South-Pacific oceanic ridges (Fig. 7.1 а). During processing of the records of earthquakes at the station, the coordinates of the epicenters were rarely determined and with a large error, so for construction of charts (Fig. 7.1a) these data were adopted from the Seismological Bulletin [6] and the Electronic Catalogue IDC (International Data Centre — Vienna, Austria) from the site of the International Seismological Center ISC (Great Britain) [8]. The analogues in the indicated sources were found only for a small number of seismic events in the station log at Novolazarevskaya station from the indicated sources [6, 8], so the epicenters of only 201 earthquakes with mb4.6 were mapped.
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а)
б)
6.6–7.5 1 5.6–6.5 4.6–5.5
2
Fig.7.1. Charts of the epicenters of earthquakes, recorded by Novolazarevskaya station in 2015 on the Earth (а) and in the area of the seismic belt of Antarctica (b) [7] from data [6, 8]: 1 – magnitude MPSP (mb); 2 – seismic station
From data of [8] two earthquakes occurred in the coastal part of Antarctica in 2015 (they are denoted by arrows h m in Fig. 7.1 b): on 27 February at 14 12 at the southeast coast of Antarctica (coordinates: 67.16 S, 144.68 E) with mb4.3 h m and on 14 March at 23 32 near Siple Island, Antarctica (coordinates: 71.87 S, 126.33 W) с mb4.6. The registration capacities of Novolazarevskaya station (=39) have not allowed registration of the event on 27 February, but the first arrival of a stronger earthquake on 14 March (=35.5) was registered (Fig. 7.2). 82
Fig.7.2. Record of Novolazarevskaya station of the arrival of Р-wave from the earthquake on 14 March at 23h32m in the area of Antarctica with mb4.6 (=35.5). Below of blue color — initial record; at the top of red color — filtered in the band of 0.7–1.3 Hz All observation materials (CD) and the results of processing the data (reports and databases) obtained at Novolazarevskaya station are stored in the archive of the GS RAS (Obninsk) and are provided on request to a wide range of users. The authors acknowledge the help of the staff of RAS GS Dr. V.F. Babkina and Dr. O.P. Kamenskaya for preparation of the materials to the article. References: 1. О.Ye. Starovoit, I.P. Gabsatarova, D.Yu. Mekhryushev, А.V. Korotin, S.А. Krasilov, V.V. Galushko, Yu.N. Kolomiyets, S.G. Poigina, О.P. Kamenskaya. Study, development and creation in the Russian Federation of the system of seismic and geodynamic observations for continuous national and global seismic monitoring. Report under Agreement 01.700.12.0094 of 01.10.2004. — Obninsk: Archives of GS RAH, 2004. — p. 77. 2. Report of GS RAS for 2013–2015 under topic 1 NIR “Continuous seismological, geophysical and geodynamic monitoring at the global, federal and regional levels, improvement and development of its methods and means” (Head — Corresponding member of RAS А.А. Malovichko). — Obninsk: Archives of GS RAH, 2016. — 808 p. 3. Krasilov S.А., Kolomiyets М.V., Akimov А.P. Organization of the process of processing of digital seismic data with the use of the WSG software complex// Modern methods of processing and interpretation of seismological data. Materials of seismological school. — Obninsk: GS RAS, 2006. — P. 77–83. 4. Instruction about the order of making and processing observations at seismic stations of the USSR uniform system of seismic observations. М., Nauka, 1982. — 273 p. 5. Gabsatarova I.P., Poigina S.G. Scenario of daily processing of a three-component record of one station by the WSG software v 5.516 and higher. Annex 3 // Results of complex seismological and geophysical observations and data processing at the base of stationary and mobile seismic networks (Report of TSOME GS RAS for 2004) / Edited by D.Yu. Mekhryushev. — Obninsk: Archives of GS RAH, 2005. 6. Seismological Bulletin (published every 10 days) for January–December 2015 / Editor-in-Chief О.Ye. Starovoit. — Obninsk GS RAS, 2015–2016. 7. Gutenberg B. and Rikhter Ch. The Earth’s seismicity. — М.: Foreign literature, 1948. – 160 p. 8. International Seismological Centre (ISC) [сайт]. On-line Bulletin. — URL: http://www.isc.ac.uk/iscbulletin/search/bulletin/. — Thatcham, United Kingdom: ISC, 2016.
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8. MAIN RAE EVENTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2016
01-15.10 At Novolazarevskaya station, work on preparation of the runway is carried out to receive heavy wheeled aircraft of the type IL-76 and small ski-aircrafts (of the type DC-2 BT-67, Twin Otter) for performing aviation activities under the DROMLAN Program.
05-23.10 Preparation of the runway at Progress station to receive aircraft on ski-wheel gear.
24.10 The first group of the 62nd RAE personnel departed St. Petersburg for Cape Town (RSA). The group includes: seasonal transport team for carrying our snow tractor traverses (STT) at Vostok station, three specialists of the air field group at Novolazarevskaya station and one specialist for work in the field camp at Lake Untersee.
25.10 Aircraft IL-76TD-90VD of the air company “Volgo-Dnepr” departed Ul’yanovsk for performing flights Cape Town – Antarctica – Cape Town under the international DROMLAN Air Program.
28.10 The M/V “Polar Pioneer” with two ornithologists from Germany onboard who will perform seasonal work on King George Island arrived to the roadstead of Bellingshausen station.
29.10 Aircraft BТ-67 and Twin Otter (air company “Kenn Borek”, Canada) landed at the runway of Novolazarevskaya station, after which on the same day there was landing of aircraft IL-76TD-90VD in the course of making the first planned flight Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station– Cape Town. In total, 66 passengers including 17 participants of the 62nd RAE were delivered to Antarctica. 30.10 IL-76TD-90VD made a return 6-hour flight Novolazarevskaya station– Cape Town with 8 passengers onboard.
01-03.11 The M/V “Polar Pioneer” (former R/V “Akademik Shuleikin”) arrived to the roadstead of Bellingshausen station. She delivered to the station 23 participants of the “Leaders’ Club” from Moscow. The group stayed at the station until the third of November. In addition to Bellingshausen station, the participants visited the neighboring Antarctic stations of Chile, China and Uruguay and held a video-conference with the leadership of our country.
01.11 The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” departed port Klaipeda (Lithuania), where the next current repairs of the ship was carried out. On the third of November, the vessel arrived to St. Petersburg for preparation to the cruise under the Program of the 62nd RAE.
03-04.11 The next second flight of aircraft IL-76TD-90VD at the route Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station– Cape Town was made. In total, 34 specialists of countries-participants of DROMLAN were delivered to Antarctica. There were no RAE participants in this flight. The Commission consisting of representatives of the air company “Volga-Dnepr” and GOSNIIGA carried out flight trials of the aircraft on the runway of Novolazarevskaya station for the purpose of additional studies of the behavior of this type of aircraft on the snow-ice runway.
05-06.11 The flight of aircraft BT-67 was made along the route Novolazarevskaya station– Syowa (Japan) – Progress. There were delivered to Progress station 11 participants of the RAE seasonal transport team for preparation of the first STT to Vostok station. By return flight on 6 November, two patients were evacuated to Novolazarevskaya station: one from Progress station and the second — from Bharati station (India).
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10-13.11 The next, third from the beginning of the season flight of IL-76TD-90VD Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station–Cape Town was made. It delivered to Antarctica 54 specialists of the countries-participants of DROMLAN.
11. 11. The Aircraft BT-67 “Snow Eagle” (China) landed on the runway of Progress station for further basing at this airfield until the end of seasonal activities on 1 February 2017.
13.11 The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” departed St. Petersburg for the next Antarctic cruise under the program of the 62nd RAE, the ship master is O.G. Kalmykov, Head of the cruise until the port of Bremerhaven (Germany) — А.V. Panfilov, 97 expedition participants are onboard the ship.
18-20.11 The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” made a call to the port of Bremerhaven. On 18 November, the STT-1 departed Progress station for Vostok station. The traverse is made on 7 transporters of the type of Pisten Bully “Polar-300”, 14 people participate, Head of traverse is S.N. Momyrev.
20.11 The R/V “Akademik Tryoshnikov” departed the port of Bremerhaven to the cruise under the program of the 62nd RAE, the ship master is D.А. Karpenko. Onboard the ship there are 70 cruise participants, including 48 students with 6 Russian students and 20 teachers of the floating university, organized by the Russian Geographical Society, and two participants of the 62nd seasonal RAE, who sail to Cape Town. The ship will make the first call to the port of Southampton (Great Britain), where three helicopters will be loaded on it.
19-21.11 The fourth from the beginning of the season flight of Il-76TD-90VD Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station – Cape Town was made. In the framework of planned operations, the paradrop of 40 barrels of fuel was made on 20 November for the field camp located at a point with coordinates of 83○ S, 10○ E.
23.11 The R/V “Akademik Tryoshnikov” departed the port of Southampton heading for the port of Cape Town.
29-30.11 The fifth from the beginning of the season flight of Il-76TD-90VD Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station– Cape Town is made. Sixty five participants of the expeditions of DROMLAN countries were delivered to Antarctica. By return flight to Cape Town, 34 passengers were delivered.
30.11 The STT-1 with a complete team arrived to Vostok station. The aviation kerosene, diesel fuel and other cargos were delivered to the station for provision of seasonal activities.
04.12 The STT-1 from Vostok station departed back to Progress station consisting of 6 machines and 13 people. At Vostok station, one transporter and a driver are left until the second traverse for performing the work of cleaning the station from snow.
07.12 In the framework of the next flight of BT-67, made by the order of the Indian Expedition, one RAE specialist was evacuated from Progress station to Novolazarevskaya station by medical indications.
07-10.12 The next sixth flight from the beginning of the season of IL-76TD-90VD Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station– Cape Town was made. Sixty five people were delivered to Antarctica, including 6 specialists of the RAE glacial-drilling team of Vostok station. The return flight to Cape Town delivered 45 participants of foreign expeditions and one ill specialist of RAE from Progress station.
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09-10.12 The glacial-drilling team was delivered to Vostok station by the flight of BT-67 by the route Novolazarevskaya – Syowa – Progress – Vostok.
11-12.12 Fifty six participants of the 62nd RAE arrived to Cape Town by regular flights of aircraft of international airlines to embark the R/V “Akademik Fedorov”.
13.12 The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” moored to the pier of the port of Cape Town.
14.12 The STT-1 returned to Progress station in a full complement and thus the STT-1 was finished.
15.12 The R/V “Akademik Tryoshnikov” moored to the pier of the port of Cape Town.
15.12 A special non-planned flight of IL-76TD-90VD departed from Cape Town to deliver equipment of Roskosmos to Novolazarevskaya station. By the same aircraft, 6 people of the seasonal team of the 62nd RAE arrived to the station.
15.12 The R/V “Akademik Karpinsky” departed St. Petersburg for the next cruise under the Program of marine geological-geophysical studies of the 62nd RAE. The ship master is Е.А. Rybnikov, Head of the expedition is N.N. Volkov, the ship headed for the port of Cape Town.
19.12 The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” departed the port of Cape Town heading for the seasonal field base Molodezhnaya with 154 expedition participants onboard, the Head of the Expedition is А.N. Skorodumov.
21.12 The R/V “Akademik Tryoshnikov” departed the port of Cape Town under the Program of the Global Sub- Antarctic cruise. The Head of the cruise until the port of Hobart is D.Yu. Bolshiyanov.
21-23.12 The next seventh flight of Il-76TD-90VD Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya– Cape Town was made under the International DROMLAN Program. Thirty seven passengers were delivered to Antarctica, the RAE staff is absent. By the return flight to Cape Town, 41 passengers, including 1 specialist of RAE, who completed the seasonal activity in the field camp Untersee were delivered.
26-28.12 The R/V “Akademik Tryoshnikov” operated in the vicinity of Marion Island (RSA), after which she headed for the Crozet Islands (France).
27-29.12 The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” provided opening of activities in the area of the seasonal field base Molodezhnaya. The ship was at a distance of 60 km from the base. The transport operations were carried out by helicopters Kа-32. At the field base to continue seasonal activities, 10 participants of RAE were left with the Head of the Base S.V. Mezhonov. Simultaneously, provision of the Belorysskaya Base Mt. Vechernyaya was made where the second line of structures of the new service-living complex of the station was delivered. At this Base, 6 persons of the team of BAE (Belorusskaya Antarctic Expedition) remained to work with the Head of the Expedition А.А. Gaidashov.