Runoff Characterization and Variations at McMurdo Station, Antarctica

As the austral summer approaches, major flow arteries are manually cleared in anticipation of the ephemeral runoff during the summer months. This flow, primarily from snowmelt, has daily and seasonal fluctuations. The flow fluctuation and variation depend on the air temperature and on many other fac...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Affleck, Rosa T, Carr, Meredith, Knuth, Margaret, Elliot, Laura, Chan, Corey, Diamond, Michael
Other Authors: ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER HANOVER NH COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Hydrology
Limnology and Potamology
*RUNOFF
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
CHANNELS(WATERWAYS)
DEPTH
DRAINAGE
EROSION
FLOW
MELTING
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SNOW
MCMURDO STATION
SEASONAL DISCHARGE
SNOWMELT
DRAINAGE CHANNELS
Antarctic
The Antarctic
Austral
McMurdo Station
Burlington
Winter Quarters Bay
Antarc*
Antarctica
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA602401
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA602401
Description
Summary:As the austral summer approaches, major flow arteries are manually cleared in anticipation of the ephemeral runoff during the summer months. This flow, primarily from snowmelt, has daily and seasonal fluctuations. The flow fluctuation and variation depend on the air temperature and on many other factors. In addition, the runoff mobilizes sediment and localized soil contaminants that wash through these channels and discharge primarily into Winter Quarters Bay. This report quantifies the runoff characteristics, including discharge correlations and variations for McMurdo Station drainage channels, and expands our understanding on the runoff characteristics at McMurdo Station. The flow data taken during austral summer 2010 11 combined with 2009 10 data fills the gaps in the analysis to quantify the runoff. Based on the correlation between the change in accumulated thawing degree days and cloudiness expressed in clearness, the time delay in the peak discharge can occur between 4 and 14 days after a peak temperature. Based on the frequency and probability distribution of the flow, a flow greater than 0.33 m3/s in the major channel occurred less than 5% of the time during the season. This study provides critical information for planning, operation and maintenance, the design of preventive methods, and the application of best practices. The original document contains color images. Prepared in collaboration with the Antarctic Support Contract, Centennial, CO, and the University of Vermont, Burlington.

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