March 6, 2008
0900 AM
Antarctica Surface Wind Satellite (click here - 24 hour loop)
There are very strong 'onshore' winds over the seacoast and periphery to the Blue Ice of East Antarctica. The consequences to that is a degradation of the ice terraces that protect the base of the Blue Ice regardless of it's continued integrity.
As noted in this picture, the winds over the East Antarctica Blue Ice are far milder and perpendicular to the onshore winds at much lower elevations/altitude. That simply exhibits the fact these two air masses are not interacting and therefore the frigid air mass of the 3 mile high Blue Ice continues to increase in 'coldness' without interaction with heat transfer systems off the equator.
The surface winds over WAIS (West Antarctica Ice Sheet) are mostly of low velocity, causing little to no movement of air, therefore exhibiting the higher sustaining temperatures now noted there. What air movement exists of WAIS is primarily offshore, therefore, the temperatures exhibited are lower than they actually are being delivered by heat transfer at much higher elevations and seasonal 'sunniness.' The offshore component to WAIS is bringing colder air to this 'heated' region. If it were not for the offshore component to the climate of WAIS, the temperatures would be considerably higher still.
March 5, 2008
0600 gmt
Antarctica
The Antarctica Vortex/Jet Stream (click here for animation)
It's evident on animation that the only area of Antarctica spared the ravages of heat transfer have been the high elevations of East Antarctica. That is why there is some accumulation of sustaining return to frigid temperatures customery to this region. That is not to say it will continue to maintain these temperatures throughout fall and winter or even through spring and summer next year. The coastal and periphery to the East Antarctica Blue Ice are still receiving a substantial amount of heat transfer.
March 6, 2008
0900 AM
Antarctica
There satellite images missing are 12 Noon, 3 PM and 12 Midnight. East Antarctica is the coldest as usual. According to the satellite picture below there are small accumulation areas of returning coldness before the incidents several months ago that removed those temperatures.
The warmest reporting stations in Antarctica exhibit an exceptionally warm end to summer :
Base Esperanza, Antarctica
Time :: 7:00 AM EST
Temperature :: 42 °F / 6 °C
Conditions :: Scattered Clouds
Humidity :: 64%
Dew Point :: 34 °F / 1 °C
Wind :: 16 mph / 26 km/h from the West
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: 29.15 in / 987 hPa (Falling)
Visibility :: 9.0 miles / 15.0 kilometers
Elevation :: 43 ft / 13 m
King Sejong, Antarctica (Airport)
Time :: 7:00 AM
Temperature :: 41 °F / 5 °C
Conditions :: Light Rain
Humidity :: 92%
Dew Point :: 39 °F / 4 °C
Wind :: 23 mph / 37 km/h from the North
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: 29.09 in / 985 hPa (Falling)
Visibility :: 5.0 miles / 8.0 kilometers
UV :: 0 out of 16
Elevation :: 33 ft / 10 m
The coldest temperatures are :
Dome C, Antarctica
Local Time: 2:09 PM GMT
Time :: 7:15 AM
Lat/Lon: 74.5° S 123.0° E
Temperature :: -58 °F / -50 °C
Wind :: 10 mph / 17 km/h from the SSW
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: in / hPa (Falling)
Elevation :: 10761 ft / 3280 m
Vostok, Antarctica
Local Time: 8:10 PM VOST
Time :: 7:00 AM EST
Lat/Lon: 78.4° S 106.9° E
Temperature :: -54 °F / -48 °C
Conditions :: Clear
Humidity :: 37%
Dew Point :: -63 °F / -53 °C
Wind :: 12 mph / 18 km/h from the West
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: in / hPa (Steady)
Visibility :: 12.0 miles / 20.0 kilometers
Elevation :: 11220 ft / 3420 m
