Characteristics of precipitation systems associated with synoptic-scale disturbances suggested by Doppler radar observations conducted at Syowa Station

• Main Authors: Hirasawa, N., Konishi, H., Fujiyoshi, Y., Yabuki, M., Iwamoto, K.
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Antarctic; Syowa Station; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://gfzpublic.gfz-potsdam.de/pubman/item/item_5021499

We conducted Doppler radar observations at Syowa Station in 2021-2022. The main objectives are to assess precipitation amount at Syowa Station and to study the precipitation system associated with a synoptic-scale disturbance. The latter half of this observation period coincided with the second SOP of YOPP-SH, during which enhanced radiosonde observations were conducted. In this presentation, we show the characteristic features of precipitation events associated with synoptic-scale disturbances from these observations. And based on this observation, we will discuss the mechanism of the precipitation system in the coastal areas of the Antarctic ice sheet. The most striking feature shown by the Doppler radar is the presence of a strong wind layer that forms below 1000 m altitude. This wind direction is nearly parallel to the continental topography and may have been formed by topographic blocking caused by the Antarctic ice sheet. Previous studies in other regions have suggested that cooling of the lower atmosphere by sublimation of snowfall is responsible for the enhancement of the system, but the effect on this Antarctic system remains to be determined.