CLOUD AMOUNT AND TYPE OVER THE ARCTIC

• Main Author: VOWINCKEL,E.
• Other Authors: AIR FORCE CAMBRIDGE RESEARCH LABS L G HANSCOM FIELD MASS
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1962
• Subjects: *CLOUDS; *POLAR REGIONS; CLASSIFICATION; METEOROLOGICAL CHARTS; PERIODIC VARIATIONS; Arctic; Norwegian Sea
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0283032; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0283032

Cloud conditions in the Arctic regions north of 65 N are evaluated. As more observations are available than when previous cloud maps were constructed, it seemed that a new attempt at cloud mapping, on a monthly basis, would be justified. It proved impossible to use a uniform period of observation for the whole area, especially for the Asian Sector. The data are most recent for the American Sector, oldest for Eurasia. The material was insufficient to permit monthly evaluations of cloud types, so the results were given for seasons. For cloud amount, monthly maps were constructed and grid point values tabulated. Latitudinal means of cloudiness show that there is high variability between seasons in the north, and rather stable conditions in the south. Only during a short transition period in May and again in October is there little difference in the average cloud amount over the whole arctic sector. The main regional types of cloudiness in the Arctic are discussed. These are: Norwegian Sea Type, East Siberian Type, Canadian, and Polar Ocean Type. The seasonal pattern (winter-summer) of cloud amount and type is described and explained, for the arctic area. (Author)