Meteorological observations at Syowa Station, Antarctica, 2010 by the 51st Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition

• Main Authors: Satoshi Sasaki, Makoto Matsumoto, Etsuko Tanaka, Hiroki Shiozuru, Hideharu Takami
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: National Institute of Polar Research 2015
• Subjects: Geography (General); G1-922; Antarctic; Syowa Station; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.15094/00010900; https://doaj.org/article/27b271faae534ef9a08b77247154b5d5

This report presents meteorological observations obtained by the Meteorological Observation Team of the 51st Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-51) at Syowa Station, Antarctica during February 2010-January 2011. The observation methods, instruments and statistical methods used by JARE-51 were similar to those used by JARE-50, except that the sensor for the ozone sonde observations was changed from KC-type ozone sensor to an ECC-type ozone sensor in April 2010, and the instruments used for surface ozone concentration monitoring were replaced in January 2010. Notable observations recorded by JARE-51 include the following: 1) The monthly sunshine duration in January 2011 was only 159.9 hours, a record low for this month. 2) On 5 September 2010, the daily high temperature was －1.1℃, a record high for the month of September. 3) Tropospheric temperatures during May and June over Syowa Station were lower than normal, and temperatures in the lower stratosphere during August-January were lower than normal. 4) Total ozone over Syowa Station was ＜220 m atm-cm between the mid September and the beginning December. The minimum value in 2010 was 145 m atm-cm. The maximum area of the ozone hole was the third smallest since 1990, and the maximum ozone deficit was the fourth smallest since 1990.