Meteorological features observed in Yukidori Zawa, Langhovde and Kizahashi Hama, Skarvsnes on the Soya Coast, East Antarctica, with comparison of those observed at Syowa Station

• Main Authors: Sakae Kudoh, Yukiko Tanabe, Masaki Uchida, Takashi Osono, Satoshi Imura
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: National Institute of Polar Research 2015
• Subjects: Geography (General); G1-922; East Antarctica; Syowa Station; Ongul; Langhovde; Skarvsnes; Yukidori Zawa; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.15094/00010899; https://doaj.org/article/d5c408d6545e4a91ab3e0af51120e80d

Observations of weather parameters at two ice-free areas (Yukidori Zawa in Langhovde and Kizahashi Hama in Skarvsnes) on the Soya Coast, East Antarctica, had been conducted since 2010 using automatic weather stations (AWSs). By comparing the data obtained from two AWSs with those at Syowa Station (Ongul Islands), we observed a degree of variability in seasonal and annual air temperature and solar radiation. However, throughout the year, both ice-free areas experienced approximately 1-2℃ higher temperatures and 50% lower wind speeds compared with Syowa Station. Relative humidity and solar radiation (which may be influenced by topographic shading) recorded by both AWS, were ～10% lower than those recorded at Syowa Station. In addition, the numbers of days above 0℃ at both sites was nearly twice that at Syowa Station; we recorded ～200 W/m2 of solar radiation and wind speeds of 3-4 m/s. These differences in weather parameters between the Ongul Islands and ice-free areas on the southern Soya Coast potentially affect the activities of terrestrial biota, and might account for the significant differences in vegetation between the two areas.