Long Term Observations and Modelling of the Stable Antarctic Boundary Layer of the Ross Ice Shelf

This work is an extension of the last year event; K352A carried out during a one-week period in the summer season of the years 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. Along term data would be collected for one complete year starting in the summer season 2002-2003. Our General aims are Gravity Waves in Antarctica Turbulence study in the Stable boundary layer of Antarctica Installation of Three Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) Surface energy and turbulence measurements tower A three Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) were installed on the Ross Ice Shelf, near the Scott-Base, Antarctica. To collect data on turbulence, a meteorological mast was installed near the wet-Lab, Scott-Base. A data collection of atmospheric turbulence is being carried out with two sonic anemometers, while the surface energy balance is being measured using a KippZonen net radiometer. Three AWS with sensitive digiquartz barometer each were also set up in a triangular array to measure the surface wind, relative humidity, temperature and pressure. The AWS plus the barometer were also used to detect the passage of gravity waves, which is also a component of the study. The surface observations would be completed with air observations, taken from two radiosonde ascents at 00 UTC and 12 UTC released from McMurdo station located about 2km from the site.