Antarctic Operational Weather Forecasting

• Main Author: Keaveney, Sean R.
• Other Authors: MARYLAND UNIV COLLEGE PARK DEPT OF METEOROLOGY
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Meteorology; *METEOROLOGICAL DATA; *WEATHER FORECASTING; *WEATHER STATIONS; *ANTARCTIC REGIONS; NATIONAL GUARD; MILITARY RESERVES; LOGISTICS SUPPORT; WEATHER; WIND; NUMERICAL ANALYSIS; RESEARCH FACILITIES; VARIABLES; AIR FORCE PERSONNEL; MATHEMATICAL PREDICTION; REMOTE DETECTORS; CLIMATE; AIR FORCE OPERATIONS; ROSS SEA; SPACE BASED; *ANTARCTICA; USAP(UNITED STATES ANTARCTIC PROGRAM); KATABATIC WINDS; OPERATION DEEP FREEZE; MESOCYCLONES; ROSS ISLAND METEOROLOGICAL EXPERIMENT; AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATIONS; Antarctic; Ross Sea; Ross Island; McMurdo Station; Antarc*; Antarctica; United States Antarctic Program
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA423766; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA423766

The United States Antarctic Program (USAP) has maintained three year-round research stations on Antarctica since the 1950's. Research conducted on the continent has taken advantage of the unique conditions afforded by Antarctica's location and climate; unfortunately, these characteristics have also required an immense logistics operation by the USAP to support its researchers. Operation Deep Freeze, the airlift portion of this endeavor, is supported by units of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard. Flights to and around the continent require accurate operational weather forecasts to minimize the threat posed by Antarctica's harsh, highly variable weather. This paper reviews literature on significant Antarctic weather features, primarily katabatic winds and mesocyclones, around McMurdo Station, the hub of USAP aviation activities. It then describes the analysis and forecasting tools, specifically, Automatic Weather Stations, space-based remote sensing, and numerical weather prediction, used by USAP forecasters to create their weather forecasts. Problems with these tools and required improvements, including the Ross Island Meteorological Experiment, are also highlighted. The original document contains color images. All DTIC reproductions will be in black and white.