Snow accumulation in central west Antarctica as related to atmospheric and topographic factors

Rubin, Morton; Giovinetto, Mario B.

doi:10.1029/jz067i013p05163

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…In in the lowest layers, is largely precipitated on the Ellsworth coast. Accumulation studies [Rubin and Giovinetto, 1962;Bull, 1971;Giovinetto and Bentley, 1985] have shown large net precipitation over the coastal regions of Ellsworth and (to a lesser degree) Marie Byrd Land. Accumulation decreases rapidly inland, exhibiting local minima over the Ross and Ronne Ice Shelves and adjacent areas of the southeastern and southwestern West Antarctic ice sheet.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric moisture transport across the Southern Ocean via satellite observations

Slonaker¹,

Woert²

1999

J. Geophys. Res.

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The atmospheric flux of energy and moisture through the Southern Ocean is relevant to meteorology, oceanography, and glaciology. Mass and energy transfer rates can be used to initialize or validate dynamical models employed to assess global climate change. Improved estimates of these parameters are of utmost importance.Despite the significance of Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean, there is a dearth of in situ measurements.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric moisture transport across the Southern Ocean via satellite observations

Slonaker¹,

Woert²

1999

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…No significant correlation with SLP was found at Byrd. This may be due to the fact that there was considerable noise even after filtering, or because the local climate or snow accumulation in the non-winter seasons affected these long-term fluctuations of snow accumulation at these stations (Rubin and Giovinetto, 1962;Vicker, 1966).…”

Section: Changes In Snow Accumulation and Cyclone Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluctuations of snow accumulation in the Antarctic and sea level pressure in the Southern Hemisphere in the last 100 years

Enomoto

1991

Climatic Change

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This paper summarizes the long-term fluctuations of snow accumulation in the Antarctic and analyzes its correlation with the sea level pressure (SLP) in the middle latitude (40~ ~ S) of the Southern Hemisphere. Stratigraphic data which were compiled from studies on ice cores and snow-pits at eight stations in the Antarctic were used in the present study. It was found that the data concerning fluctuations in snow accumulation for East Antarctica showed correlations, whereas no such correlation was observed for the data from West Antarctica.This study shows possible relationships between snow accumulation in the Antarctic and SLP in the middle latitudes. The fluctuations of accumulation at South Pole, Dome C, Wilkes and South Ice Point show correlations with SLP over a large area in the 400-50 ~ S latitudinal zone. For the long-term fluctuations of SLP in the 40~ ~ S latitudinal zone, a zonal fluctuation with wave number zero structure and a longitudinal variation of SLP anomalies due to their out-of-phasefluctuation between the Pacific and the Indian Oceans were observed. The temporal scales for these fluctuations were found to be in the order of 20-30 years and 40-60 years, respectively. The influences of these two modes on the behaviour of snow accumulation in the Antarctic is also discussed.

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“…despite the influence of many other factors. such as complicated upstream topography for parts of West Antarctica [RttbinGiovinetto, 1962].…”

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confidence: 99%

Snowfall in high southern latitudes

Bromwich¹

1988

Reviews of Geophysics

386

338

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Precipitation over Antarctica is an important climatic variable whose study has been limited by the frequent inability to discriminate between actual snow precipitation and drifting snow. Recent advances in point precipitation measurements promise to circumvent this problem. In addition, indirect estimates based upon t(h)•e atmospheric water balance equation provide seasonal precipitation amounts for areas larger than I xl km 2 . For broad-scale studies in the continental interior net snow accumulation closely approximates precipitation. Annual precipitation is relatively high over the marginal ice slopes in relation to amounts in the interior. This meridional distribution is due to the orographic lifting of moist air by the ice sheet. Zonal precipitation variations are related to the quasi-stationary cyclones in the circumpolar low-pressure trough. Most precipitation falls in winter, when the average moisture content of the air is low. The intensity of cyclonic activity is the key factor governing the amount of precipitation and its variations. Precipitation generation in coastal regions is strongly influenced by the fact that poleward moving, moist maritime air masses are deflected by the steep marginal ice slopes to blow parallel to the terrain contours. Direct orographic lifting with accompanying adiabatic cooling is the dominant precipitation formation mechanism inland of the l-kin elevation contour; intrusions of moist air far into the continent are accompanied by southerly winds through a deep tropospheric layer. Above 3000 m elevation where terrain slopes are gentle, radiative cooling is the primary mechanism by which saturation is maintained within moist air, and thus by which precipitation is formed. Most precipitation at these elevations falls from clear skies. This phenomenon does not differ from precipitation originating in clouds but is a direct result of the low moisture content of the air, and hence ice layers are optically too thin to be visible as clouds.

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Snow accumulation in central west Antarctica as related to atmospheric and topographic factors

Cited by 18 publications

References 1 publication

Atmospheric moisture transport across the Southern Ocean via satellite observations

Atmospheric moisture transport across the Southern Ocean via satellite observations

Fluctuations of snow accumulation in the Antarctic and sea level pressure in the Southern Hemisphere in the last 100 years

Snowfall in high southern latitudes

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