Automatic weather station data investigation the physical environment processes that control the production of meltwater on the McMurdo Ice Shelf and the impact on pond physical dynamics

The processes controlling the production of meltwater on the McMurdo Ice Shelf, in particular the energy partitioning and turbulent fluxes at the ice shelf surface, was investigated by the collection of standard meteorological variables. An automatic weather station was installed from 22nd October 2003 to January 17th 2004 with data including: wind direction, wind speed (at 63.5 and 196cm), temperature (at 105cm and 237.5cm), humidity (at 105cm and 237.5cm), atmospheric pressure, subsurface temperature (15 and 30cm), shortwave radiation (incoming and outgoing), longwave radiation (incoming and outgoing) and surface temperature. Eddy covariance equipment was installed for a two day period and several measurements of albedo were taken over different surface types. The station was reconfigured in the 2005-06 season and programmed to collect data on wind speed, direction, humidity, air temperature, solar radiation, reflectance (over pond), pond temperature (3 depths) and sediment temperature (3 depths).