Antarctic Automatic Weather Stations - Antarctic Projects - University

34 Pages·2012·23.05 MB·English

‘Antarctic Automatic Weather Stations
"Field Report fo 2000-2001
Jonathan Thom
ob Flint
David Otani
George Weidner
‘Charles R. Steams

‘Space Science and Enginsering Center
‘University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, Wisconsin 3706

‘The National Science Foundation’s Ofie of Polar Programs fund the placement of automatic weather sation
(AWS) units in remote reas in Antarctica in support of meteorological researc, applications and operations The base
AWS unis measure air temperature, wind speed and diection ata nominal height of 3 meters above the surface Ait
Dressure is measured atthe hight of the electronie's enclosure, Some units measure relative humidity at 3 milers
above the surface and the air temperature difference between .5 and 3 mers above the surface at the tine of
instalation. The data are collected by the ARGOS Data Collection System (DCS) on board the National Qcanie ahd
‘Atmospheric Adminstration (NOAA) series ofplar-rbiting satelite

‘The AWS units are located in anays for specific proposals and at other sts for operational puposes. Any one
AWS may support several experiments and al support operational meteorological services = especially support for
‘weather forecasts fr aircraft fights

‘Research areas supported include

‘+ Barrier wind flow along the Antarctic Peninsula and the Transantrctic Mountains
‘Kataatic wind flow down the Reeves, Byrd and Beardmor Glaciers,

the Siple and Adele Coast,

“Mesoscale circulation and sensible and lata heat fase on the Ros Ice Shelf

Cinatology of Byrd and Dome C sts

Meteorological suppor around the South Pole

‘Meteorological support forthe West Antarctic Ice Sheet Intative and

the intational rans-Antartic Scientific Expedition

‘Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) along the Antarctic Peninsula

“Meteorlogical suppor for United States Antarctic Program flight operations

‘The following stes support specific principal investigators funded by NSF-OPP.

Dr Douglas R. MacAyeal: Iceberg Dri in the Near-Shlf Environment, Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

Dr. Gerd Wendler, Katabatie Winds: D-10, D-47,D-57, D80, Dome Ci, Port Marin, Cape Denison,
‘Penguin Point, Sutton, and Cape Web8,

Dr. David Bromoich, Sipie Coast Katabaic Winds: Byrd Staton, Briana, Elizabeth C, Erin, Hary,
‘Theresa, Doug and Swithinbank

‘Dr Ray Smith, Long Term Ecological Research: Racer Rock, Bonaparte Poin, and Santa Claus Island,

Dr. David Bromwich, Research on Ocean-Atmosphere Variability and Ecosystem Responss in the Ros Sea:
Marble Poin, Whitlock, Manuela, Scott Island, Young Island, Possession Island

‘West Antarctic ce Shet Inative and Intemational Trans Anaric Scientific Expedition: Siple Dome and
‘Nock installed in 1999/2000 field season. Siple Dome sites equipped with snow temperature profiles

‘Aircraft Operation: All AWS sites in Antarctic.

‘The Antarctic AWS units support many investigators outside of NSF-OPP.
Field wor Jeted for 2000-2001

‘A. McMurdo based
1 For the 2000-2001 fed season, our November il eam consisted of Mr. Rob Flint who serviced
'AWS sts from the USCGC Polar Sean the Southbound voyage ( MST David Otani serviced
‘AWS sites onthe Norhbound voyage) and at Memurdo Staton and Mir. Jonothan Thom who
‘serviced AWS from Memurod Sation and deployed Avs inthe Iceberg B-1SA.

2. ‘Sites serve from the USCGC Polar Sea

Southbound
Ste ‘ARGOS ID Service performed at site
Southbound
Dit sou Resarted AWS,
Sutton $939 Removed AWS unit
Port Martin 3909 Service AWS
(Cape Denison 8988, Service AWS
engin Point 3910 Service AWS.
Northbound
‘Whitlck 3907 Insalled new AWS.
3. Sites serviced from Memurdo
Site ‘ARGOS 1D Semsice performed a site
Pegasus North 21387 Site was moved
Ferrell, 3929 ‘New AWS installed
Laie 1 21360, [New AWS installed
‘William Field 21364 New AWS installed Mu
Marlyn 8904 [New AWS installed

44 Installtion of GPS-AWS systems on Fecberg 15A.

'B._ West Antarctic bas oersitons
1. No operations for 2001 det limited ressources of time and AWS

South Poe based operitonss
11> No operaiton for 2001 were necessary

D. led workin Adelie Land
1 No eld work was accomplished in Adele Lan due toa lack of resources available from the
Universiy of Wisconsin

Feld work by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition
‘Site ‘ARGOS ID Service performed at ste
Minho 21359 Installed October 2000

F. Feld work accomplished bythe British Antarctic Survey
1. No opeeraitons te report at this time,

6. Service performed by Long Term Ecological Research group and
1. No operations du to lack of resources

‘The cunt lis of AWS (oo including AWS curently deployed on B-15A) is given in the Table 1, by
zographc area, Table 2, by Argos ID, and Table 3, by GTS umber, Figures 1 atthe end of this report
Show the AWS locatons by rion. Sites wih three digits afer the decimal point in the Iain and

Tongitude were located using the ARGOS positions fora thre sy period, aiteraft GPS, or handheld GPS,

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Preetreriitiiiry

PEELE LLEEEEE EERE
Plans for June 1, 2001 through July 31, 2002
‘A. AWS Operations based from MeMurdo
1 Tnsallations
‘No new installations are planned at thi time

2. AWS servicing
'AWS sites willbe serviced as needed

'B. AWS operations from the iebreaker.
1 "The fatlowing AWS sites wil be visited for intaling an AWS with igh wind
‘speed and direction wits fom HydroTech Ic.

Site ‘ARGOS Lat Long Eley
D on
cape Webb oes MORE

C-AWS operations in West Antarctica
+e feloming AWS sites willbe serviced as necessary, Some ites may be moved.

site ‘ARGOS TAT LONG ELEV

D co)
Byrd Staton 8903 soos usaorw 1530
‘Brana 21362 Bes LMSW 9
Elizabeth 21361 e203 S708FW 9
Erin 21363 S4901°S —128810°W 1005
Hay 21355 $3009 = 12139sW KS
Theresa 21358 sors ISBITW 1460
Doug 9922 mass 132WW 1433
Mount Siple 3981 Tes 270sW 0
Siple Dome 8900 S163 MRTW 20
Swithinbank 21356 S208 6W MS
Neel 8936, mars MLOTW 1833

_. Tentative field work supported by the Insttet Francais Pour la Recherche et la Technologie
Polaires (FRTE) at Dumont D'Urville.
1 ‘Two itsallatons are planed with other sites tobe serviced as necessary.

AWS Site "ARGOS Tat ‘Long. An

D (eg) es) (o)
st Install AWS 8912 ers S783 105
so Install AWS 8916 Foows 1348782500

Tentative Field work by the Japanese Antarctic Expedition from
‘Dome Fuji
1 install AWS 8904 at Dome Fj Site

AWS fed work tobe dane by the British Antarctic Survey at Rothera
‘Staton

Tr Service AWS sites a5 necesary
6G. AWS operations based at Palmer Staton for LTER support

‘Provide replacemat RM Young 05103 AWS for 8923
2. Provide replacement AWS for Hugo Island AWS 8933,

1h. AWS operaitons in support of ebergstaies
1 Tnsall2 GPS-AWS units on an iceberg,
2. AWS Operations over the next grant cycle from 1 July 2001 to 1
July 2004.

Deplorment of Next-Generation AWS

“The current National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Antarctic Automatic Weather Station Program
relies onan AWS tat was designed 20 years ago. This design has proven tobe very reliable, however,
‘itieal components ae no longer availble. The proposed project i intended to deploy replacement AWS
‘designated AWS3A. A separate proposal has been submitted eniled Design and Fabrication of
‘Prototype Next-Generation Polar Automatic Weather Station. Specific objectives ofthe proposal are the
‘design of anew generation automatic weather tation (AWS) that wil (1) be capable of operating i the
‘harsh polar envionment, 2) be capable of transmitting data as an Argos-ertfied platform teminal
transmit (PTT tothe various polar-orbiting stelits that have the Argo recive onboard, (3) consume
‘uch less power than the cutent AWS and (4 be highly Mexble ints ability to interface with many
different sensors and (5) be competitive econimically with the commercial data loggers curently available

‘The new design will tke advaniage ofthe many advances in microprocessors and integrated cuits hat
Ive ocurred since the current AWS was designed inthe 1970's, Major advances include (1) much lower
ower requirements (2) greatly reduced component size, 3) more processing power, and (8) many more
functions on single inteprated circuit. The new AWS will alo antcpate the Argoe 3 satelite platform
(Argos newsletter No. $4, 1999) that wil allow for two-way communication between the satelite and the
AWS.

“The new AWS design wil be compatible with all amospherc sensors used by the current AWS,
‘Additional sensor configurations (including smart sensors) wil be possible with he we of additonal
‘npafouput (VO) circuits. Flexible data sampling intervals wil be selected by the AWS3A'S system,
software asi presently th case for current AWS2B. The fist year request ifr tre ofthe new
AWSBA units tobe constructed. The unt costs are significantly reduced from tat ofthe current AWS
‘ince we will euse some major components (eg the pressure gage) inthe new AWS, If the above
propos iit funded then we would use a commercially avaiable data logging system hat basa proven
‘ecordof operating in polar regions. We would lose some Mexblityin selecting other sensors and
‘components and in having consol of the data processing sofvare,

Proposed AWS Operations

1. West Antarctica sector

‘The region of the Earth from the South Pole to 30°S along 85°W then to 175°W then tothe South Pole
remains the largest meteorological void fr surface observations by manned sations. A dog house AWS
‘unit shouldbe installed on Peter island (69'S, 91°) to provide pressure and temperature dia, Past
‘experience has shown tit wind sjstems on islands lke Peer I wil last only a few weeks. The dog house
AWS has the batteries, AWS electronics and pressure guage, and antenna located inside a smal dog house
‘hat weighs abot 300 ig The dog house canbe cared as ling load by the Coast Guar helicopters and
deposited at locations where the helicopter cannot and. Dog house AWS unit are curently installed at
‘Young, Possession, and Scot Islands and at Mt Siple. The bateris will pert the unt for several years
anda solar panel is installed to charge the batteries. The instalation at Peter sland is dependent onthe
availability of the Coast Guard helicopter o make the instalation. ‘The dog house AWS box ist
“MeMurdo, Antarctica waiting forthe opportunity.
wal cal

‘The ongoing WAIS/ITASE programs sek to cba high solution ice core glaciochemical cords
fom sites in West Antarctica. These records can provide indirect information on pst atmospheric
cirelation pattems over West Antartica (Mayewski et al, 1997), We propose to make use ofthe ITASE
35 an opportunity to place AWS at oations in West Antarctica in ode o provide a more complete picture

7
route

‘Metcorolopcal suppor for WAIS (Bindschale, 1996) and ITASE (Mayewski, 1996) in West
“Antarctica has already begun with he inetallation af an AWS unt ata posible ce core diling sit at
‘West Antartic Dome (Noe! ste Tale 1, Figure 2)- Adiiona sites wil be selected partly based on
Gheurved accumulation difleences around te dome. The difeences in annua sow acumulation may
‘Ufc differences nthe wind fields and astocated moisture advection at each ste, The Greenland Crest
‘honed sigfcan differences in the wind fed around the rest Steams et al, 1997). The monthly
‘Routunt wand dietion onthe westside ofthe Grenland Crest was from te south and along the contours
‘ile onthe eastside ofthe ces the monthly resultant wind direction wa fom the northwest and across
{he contours downslope. The anmsl resulta wind direction at Byrd Station i from the north while the
Sple Station anmalresullant wind directions fom the south, The thee AWS sites around South Pole
‘A anmual estan wind directions along 120°W to 1S0°W essentially towards Byrd Staton. There are
‘Nouiican differences in the annual resultant wind direction over distance of approximately 1000 ki.
‘Suticlent AWS units need to be installed in West Antarctica to resolve the surface wind fields. The
‘Taveras planned by TTASE for subsequent years wil elp determine the location and timing of aitional
‘AWS units

Msditnal AWS sites in West Antartica that would provide valuable data fr real time nasi and for

Toul te eahera dog house AWS (pressure and temperature) ora conventional AWS unit. The choice will
Epend yponcondivons at Pie Island Bay suchas the annual snow accumulation and the buildup of f=
foros fos on sensors

2. East Antaretic Sector
AWS in suppor of Katabatic wind snd

“The proponed porgam wil cone to support OP funded sts of the tata wind song he Ase Cos, bY
deer ANS hat make we of pci wind senor that ar capabe of withsanaing the ctemaly ih
eploving AWS adler ea, 197), The AWS deployed from Dumont DUrvle to Dome C wil be mantainde via
$ cooperative program withthe French pola program,

tke) Soe tis proposl reduces the numberof personel rm previous yar itis propose a ny TS
ert giovidsposomnl io serie the AWS along the Ades Cas. Such personal could recive ning at
de Gone ies and Enginering Cente proto the anna ebreaker cruise along the Ati Cost.

JARE meteorological suppor

“The proposed program wil oie to epay AWS in ast Dronning Maud Land Antartica tough coPons
1 atune Amare Research Expedition JARE). These AWS arin suport of « Deep ce Cong
rane en Fup (Kame cl, 1997) and provide data an area of Anacca wi fen ruin cberstions AS
er ee ledge ofthe current atmospheric circulation around Dome Fji wil help interpret he

aa cal rad of thee cores Is parposed 1st wpanaay of AWS around Dome Tul smi a SY
aciochemict Gland le Sheet Pet (ISP ie coring tat the sua of realand (Steams 1057)
a oa ee Dome Fut AWS shows similar warming events dorng the winter months tat were observed athe

“The proposed program wil continu to sppot the Long Term Ecological Research (TER) program aunt Son
nctorelogial variables. These

Yan and an addtional site on Racer Rock (Table 1 and Figure

AVS 2 aclorucs wee constied to withstand the marine envionment, However its prope to frtes mos

Ihe Sea sarvics the AWS, utd 1 he recaction in personel rm previous funded roposas i = posed
‘RCRD Sct rom Palmer Satin ora NSF-funded TER programs sevice the AWS, I mecesry, they could be
treme at SSEC prior tothe fed season.

AWS forEast Antarctic Patean

“There remain some significant meteorological aa void areas onthe high plateau of East Antartica. Is propose 10
Tae Jungs ofa plod TTASE traverse frm Dome Concordia station to Dome Fu though Dome A (Dome

Tae height clevation in Antarctica by aint French and Taian team nthe nea future, This aves

anc a begin nthe 2002203 fl season and take up o four ers to complete, The AWS wll azn soon he
aarreine Operations a well s provide valuable surface meteorological data thi an provide more dt for

ic cov Par amalyatand enable bt inialization for models sed fr operational weather forecasting, AS noes
arate teseAWS wil aso serve af pound Wu forthe coming generation of slit sounder tis posed
read evurces ar avaabe, independent AWS be place at the AGO ses (Figure) The AGO paform

‘99 tas documented the eatin ofthe azone hoe tothe delay i th aniston ro winter to spring (© &-Ormaton
Tie Rapopausat the South Pole and oter changes inthe atmospheric culation over East Anarctica beter
aa aeezeg oft local variability ofthe climate of East Antari is necessary before any speculations with
‘exept othe mpc of global climate change on Antarctic are possible.

AMS sites for monitoring cimate change