Characterization of the atmospheric temperature and moisture conditions above Dome C (Antarctica) during austral summer and fall months

Tomasi, Claudio; Petkov, Boyan; Benedetti, Elena; Vitale, Vito; Pellegrini, A.; Dargaud, Guillaume; Silvestri, Lorenzo De; Grigioni, Paolo; Fossat, E.; Roth, William L.; Valenziano, L.

doi:10.1029/2005jd006976

Cited by 44 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…e frequent occurrence of inversions in the Arctic and Antarctic was con rmed by Tomasi et al [13], Vihma et al [14], and Nygård et al [15,16] who showed their link with temperature inversions and the occurrence of low clouds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Vertical Structure of Moisture Content over Europe

Wypych

Bochenek

2018

Advances in Meteorology

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e vertical structure of water vapor content in the atmosphere strongly affects the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface and processes associated with the formation of clouds and atmospheric precipitation. e purpose of this study was to assess the vertical differentiation of water vapor over Europe on a seasonal basis and also to evaluate the role of atmospheric circulation in changes therein. Daily values of specific humidity (SHUM) for the time period 1981-2015 were obtained from pressure levels available from ECMWF Era-Interim reanalysis data and used in the study. Eight grid points were analyzed in detail. Each point is representative of a region with different moisture conditions. SHUM profiles were then used to identify cases of moisture inversion. Horizontal flux of specific humidity (SHUMF) was analyzed for principal pressure levels that occur in both inversion-type and inversion-free situations. In addition, SHUM and SHUMF anomalies were identified for advection directions.e research results showed the existence of differences in the vertical structure of water vapor content in the troposphere over Europe, and the Northeastern Atlantic and the presence of moisture inversions not only in areas north of 60°N but also in temperate and subtropical zones. Inversions can occur in two different forms-surface-based and elevated. e occurrence of inversions varies with the seasons. e role of atmospheric circulation is observable in the winter and triggers both surpluses and shortages of moisture via the effect of specific pressure system types (significant role of seasonal pressure high) and via advection directions. In addition, there exists a clear difference between the structure of moisture in the atmospheric boundary layer and in the free atmosphere.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Vertical Structure of Moisture Content over Europe

Wypych

Bochenek

2018

Advances in Meteorology

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“…The temperature sensor mounted in the Vaisala RS 92 sondes is an F-Thermocup (Jauhiainen et al 2005), which has been described by Luers (1997). The most important source of errors in these sensors is the solar heating (Tomasi 2006). Considering the elevation angle at Dome C, and the fact that only data gathered during the winter were considered, a correction for solar heating is not necessary.…”

Section: Instrumentation and Quality Assessment Of Temperature Profilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

One Year of Surface-Based Temperature Inversions at Dome C, Antarctica

Pietroni

Argentini

Petenko

2013

Boundary-Layer Meteorol

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In 2005 the Study of Stable Boundary Layer Environment at Dome C (STA-BLEDC) experimental campaign was conducted at the plateau station of Concordia at Dome C, Antarctica. Temperature profiles measured with a microwave radiometer were used to study the characteristics of surface-based temperature inversions over the course of a year. Statistics of temperature profiles for every month are discussed; the difference between daytime and nocturnal cases observed during the summer months disappears during winter. Surface-based temperature inversions occurred in 70 % of the time during summer, and almost all of the time during winter. During winter the occurrence of warming events leads to a decrease in the temperature difference between the top and the base of the inversion (i.e. the inversion strength). The inversion strength maxima ranged between 3 • C (December) and 35 • C (August) corresponding to gradients of 0.1 and 0.3 • C m −1 , respectively. The average surface-based inversion height presents a daily cycle during the summer months with values up to 200 m in the morning hours, while it affects a layer always deeper than 100 m during the winter months. The relationships between inversion strength and the downward longwave radiative flux, absolute temperature, and wind speed are examined. The inversion strength decreases as the longwave radiation increases. A clear anti-correlation between inversion strength and near-surface temperature is evident throughout the year. During the winter, the largest inversion strength values were observed under low wind-speed conditions; in contrast, a clear dependence was not found during the summer.

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“…Furthermore, whatever the season considered, it is shown that multilayer clouds occur over Antarctica. (Tomasi et al, 2006). Situated on top of a dome, there is no katabatic wind as in the case of the costal station of Dumont d'Urville (66 • S, 140 • E; 0 m a.s.l.)…”

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confidence: 99%

Genesis of diamond dust, ice fog and thick cloud episodes observed and modelled above Dome C, Antarctica

Ricaud¹,

Bazile²,

Guasta³

et al. 2017

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Abstract. Episodes of thick cloud and diamond dust/ice fog were observed during 15 March to 8 April 2011 and 4 to 5 March 2013 in the atmosphere above Dome C (Concordia station, Antarctica; 75 • 06 S, 123 • 21 E; 3233 m a.m.s.l.). The objectives of the paper are mainly to investigate the processes that cause these episodes based on observations and to verify whether operational models can evaluate them. The measurements were obtained from the following instruments: (1) a ground-based microwave radiometer (HAM-STRAD, H 2 O Antarctica Microwave Stratospheric and Tropospheric Radiometers) installed at Dome C that provided vertical profiles of tropospheric temperature and absolute humidity every 7 min; (2) daily radiosoundings launched at 12:00 UTC at Dome C; (3) a tropospheric aerosol lidar that provides aerosol depolarization ratio along the vertical at Dome C; (4) down-and upward short-and long-wave radiations as provided by the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) facilities; (5) an ICE-CAMERA to detect at an hourly rate the size of the ice crystal grains deposited at the surface of the camera; and (6) space-borne aerosol depolarization ratio from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) lidar aboard the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) platform along orbits close to the Dome C station. The time evolution of the atmosphere has also been evaluated by considering the outputs from the mesoscale AROME and the global-scale ARPEGE meteorological models. Thick clouds are detected during the warm and wet periods (24-26 March 2011 and 4 March 2013) with high depolarization ratios (greater than 30 %) from the surface to 5-7 km above the ground associated with precipitation of ice particles and the presence of a supercooled liquid water (depolarization less than 10 %) clouds. Diamond dust and/or ice fog are detected during the cold and dry periods (5 April 2011 and 5 March 2013) with high depolarization ratios (greater than 30 %) in the planetary boundary layer to a maximum altitude of 100-300 m above the ground with little trace of precipitation. Considering 5-day back trajectories, we show that the thick cloud episodes are attributed to air masses with an oceanic origin whilst the diamond dust/ice fog episodes are attributed to air masses with continental origins. Although operational models can reproduce thick cloud episodes in the free troposphere, they cannot evaluate the diamond dust/ice fog episodes in the planetary boundary layer because they require to use more sophisticated cloud and aerosol microphysics schemes.

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Characterization of the atmospheric temperature and moisture conditions above Dome C (Antarctica) during austral summer and fall months

Cited by 44 publications

References 38 publications

Vertical Structure of Moisture Content over Europe

Vertical Structure of Moisture Content over Europe

One Year of Surface-Based Temperature Inversions at Dome C, Antarctica

Genesis of diamond dust, ice fog and thick cloud episodes observed and modelled above Dome C, Antarctica

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