October 3, 2007
1200 UTC
Temperature map of Antarctica's reporting stations.
There are primarily very low temperatures at the highest elevations in Antarctica. There is also a very drastic drop in temperature outside of these elevations. That is due to the arrival of heat transfer systems and the transcending effects to the lower altitudes/elevations, including the coastal areas (Noted are outlying exceptions, but, there could be microenvironment climates or simply instruments that need to be calibrated.) The coastal areas, when hot, tranfer heat themselves in the East Wind Drift (the coastal 'sea' circulation of Antarctica) which in turn transfers heat to the West Wind Drift and then the southern Pacific and Atlantic. At the point where the three ocean circulations meet in the Circumpolar Ocean there is heat transfer primarily directed 'into' the West Wind Drift from the larger southern oceans. But, that is being met also by higher land temperatures from the continent as well.
The purpose to look at this temperature map is to realize the heat transfer systems are having an impact 'chronically.' And let me state that word again. 'Chronically' on the stability of the ice mass of Antarctica. Those lower elevation ice structures are at risk for sublimination and the 'idea' the Blue Ice might be compromised is a real, not theoretical, but real world issue that requires scrutiny.
October 3, 2007
0600 AM
Antarctica Wind Satellite (click here for loop)
A lot of high wind has transcended from the arriving high altitude vortices. I have never seen the heat transfer into Antarctica this ferocious before. It is constant now. I believe we will see some major ice loss this Spring and Summer season in Antarctica. If there is one season that might actually ignite danger to the biotic life of Antarctica it might be starting with this one.
October 2, 2007
0600 AM
Antarctica Jet Stream Satelitte (click for animation loop)
The animated satellite shows a chronic arrival of heat vortexes from September 27 through October 2, 2007. The highest altitudes where Vostok resides is mostly immune from these huge, ionic heat transfer systems. They are arriving at the lower altitudes of 6 - 8 ,000 feet in elevation.
October 3, 2007
0723 gmt
South Pole Satellite
Three major vortexes arriving in this satellite image. They are all directly connected to equatorial heat and water vapor. They are at 2, 4 and 7 o'clock. The vortex that arrives at 2 o'clock actually originates at the equator at 10-11 o'clock. The one arriving at 4 o'clock orginates at 3 o'clock equatorially.
The vortex as 7 o'clock begins over Hobart Island, Australia. The weather at Hobart is not very different than the high temperatures of Antarctica (click for Hobart weather history). Hobart is an interesting place. It has water vapor, low pressure and what concerns me is a homogenizing of climate at these latitudes. There is one other map I need to include at the top of the entry today. It shows a homogenizing of low temperatures with the chronic arrival of the vortexes.
Why is that an issue? Because these areas are under attack by the heat transfers. They, as ice structures are not GETTING relief from the heat to attempt to regain it's balance. These areas at lower altitudes/elevations are also supporting structures to the Blue Ice. The ultimate question is always, what happens to the rock solid Blue Ice when the supporting structurs surrounding it disappears. Does it simply melt, which is not likely, or does it plummet into the oceans?
October 3, 2007
0600
Antarctica temperature satellite (click title of entry for loop)
The warmest reporting stations today:
Base San Martin
12:00 PM GMT
Elevation :: 13 ft / 4 m
Temperature :: 35 °F / 2 °C
Conditions :: Overcast, Calm
Humidity :: 52%
Dew Point :: 24 °F / -4 °C
Wind :: Calm
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: 29.46 in / 998 hPa (Falling)
Visibility :: 12.0 miles / 20.0 kilometers
UV :: 0 out of 16
Clouds:
Overcast 9843 ft / 3000 m
(Above Ground Level)
King Sejong
12:00 PM GMT
Elevation :: 33 ft / 10 m
Temperature :: 35 °F / 2 °C
Conditons :: Partly Cloudy
Humidity :: 90%
Dew Point: :: 33 °F / 1 °C
Wind :: 4 mph / 6 km/h from the SE
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: 29.68 in / 1005 hPa (Rising)
Visibility :: 12.0 miles / 20.0 kilometers
Palmer Station
8:00 AM CLT
Elevation :: 26 ft / 8 m
Temperature :: 36 °F / 2 °C
Conditions :: Clear
Humidity :: 64%
Dew Point :: 28 °F / -2 °C
Wind :: 16 mph / 25 km/h from the NE
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: 29.60 in / 1002 hPa (Falling)
Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.0 kilometers
The coldest reporting stations today:
Vostok
12:00 PM VOST
Vostok, Antarctica
Elevation :: 11220 ft / 3420 m
Temperature :: -83 °F / -64 °C
Coinditions :: Clear
Humidity :: 37%
Dew Point :: -90 °F / -68 °C
Wind :: 6 mph / 9 km/h from the WNW
Wind Gust: :: -
Pressure :: iin / hPa (Rising)
Visibility :: 12.0 miles / 20.0 kilometers
Aviation
Flight Rule:
VFR ()
Wind Speed :: 6 mph / 9 km/h /
Wind Dir :: 300° (WNW)
Ceiling :: 100000 ft / 100000 m
Clean Air ( Amundsen-Scott, AA )
11:50 PM NZST
Elevation :: 9285 ft / 2830 m
Temperature :: -80 °F / -62 °C
Conditions :: Ice Crystals
Wind :: 7 mph / 11 km/h / 3.1 m/s from the ESE
Pressure :: 28.11 in / 952 hPa (Falling)
Visibility :: 6.2 miles / 10.0 kilometers
UV :: 0 out of 16
Clouds:
Few 7000 ft / 2133 m
(Above Ground Level)
continued...
