Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Pseudovertical Temperature Profiles Give Insight into Winter Evolution of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer over the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica

Peyman Zawar-Reza * Centre for Atmospheric Research, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Marwan Katurji * Centre for Atmospheric Research, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Department of Geography, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

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Iman Soltanzadeh * Centre for Atmospheric Research, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Tanja Dallafior * Centre for Atmospheric Research, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland

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Shiyuan Zhong Department of Geography, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

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Daniel Steinhoff Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado

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Bryan Storey Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

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S. Craig Cary ** Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

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Print Publication:
01 Jul 2013
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-13-034.1
Page(s):
1664–1669
Restricted access

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Abstract

Measuring routine vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature is critical in understanding stability and the dynamics of the boundary layer. Routine monitoring in remote areas such as the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) of Antarctica is logistically difficult and expensive. Pseudovertical profiles that were derived from a network of inexpensive ground temperature sensors planted on valley sidewalls (up to 330 m above valley floor), together with data from a weather station and a numerical weather prediction model, provided a long-term climatological description of the evolution of the winter boundary layer over the MDV. In winter, persistent valley cold pools (VCPs) were common, lasting up to 2 weeks. The VCPs were eroded by warm-air advection from aloft associated with strong winds, increasing the temperature of the valley by as much as 25 K. Pseudovertical datasets as described here can be used for model validation.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

Corresponding author address: Peyman Zawar-Reza, Dept. of Geography, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8020, New Zealand. E-mail: peyman.zawar-reza@canterbury.ac.nz

Abstract

Measuring routine vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature is critical in understanding stability and the dynamics of the boundary layer. Routine monitoring in remote areas such as the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) of Antarctica is logistically difficult and expensive. Pseudovertical profiles that were derived from a network of inexpensive ground temperature sensors planted on valley sidewalls (up to 330 m above valley floor), together with data from a weather station and a numerical weather prediction model, provided a long-term climatological description of the evolution of the winter boundary layer over the MDV. In winter, persistent valley cold pools (VCPs) were common, lasting up to 2 weeks. The VCPs were eroded by warm-air advection from aloft associated with strong winds, increasing the temperature of the valley by as much as 25 K. Pseudovertical datasets as described here can be used for model validation.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

Corresponding author address: Peyman Zawar-Reza, Dept. of Geography, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8020, New Zealand. E-mail: peyman.zawar-reza@canterbury.ac.nz
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Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

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