Thermal, pressure and wind fields at ground level in the area of the Italian base at Terra Nova Bay, Victoria Land, Antarctica, as observed by a network of automatic weather stations
Ground temperature, pressure and wind speed
monthly averages in the area of the Italian Station at Terra Nova Bay,
Antarctica, were analyzed for the period 1987–1991 by means of a network of nine
AWS (automatic weather stations). Spatial configurations of temperature show a
well-defined, relatively warm island in the area of Terra Nova Bay, between
Drygalsky and Campbell ice tongues, throughout the year. A second warm island is
present to the north along the coast, between Aviator and Mariner ice tongues,
for most of the year. From February to March a rapid drop in temperature is
observed at all stations. A strong thermal gradient develops during February,
March, April and October, November, December, between the coastal region and
inner highlands. The baric configuration follows the elevation of the area.
Annual average pressure and temperature as functions of stations altitude show
linear trends. Severe katabatic wind episodes are recorded at all stations, with
wind speed exceeding 25 m s–1 and direction following the orographic
features of the inner areas. Co-occurrences of these episodes were observed for
stations located along stream lines of cold air drainage. The autocorrelation
function of maximum wind speed time series shows wind persistence of 2–3 days
and wind periodicity of about one week
