Physical and chemical properties of the surface snow and annual accumulation in western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, in 1999/2000, 2000/2001 and 2003/2004

Surface snow properties and annual accumulation have been studied in the western Dronning Maud Land in the vicinity of the Finnish research station Aboa during the austral summers 1999/2000, 2000/2001 and 2003/2004. Snow stratigraphy, oxygen isotope ratio and major ions were analysed in the shallow snow pits (1-2 m) along a 350 km transect from the coast to the inland. In 2003/2004 also three shallow firn cores (8-10 m) were drilled in the area.