The Antarctica Ice Chime

March 6, 2008
1111 gmt
Indian Ocean Satellite
Noted the eastern border of the 'heat concentration' of this area ends where the topical rainforests end. It is all due to water vapor provided by dense flora. Without the ability by Earth to concentrate heat into water vapor to be transported and dissipated, we may as well be living on Venus.


March 6, 2008
1512 gmt
West Pacific Satellite
The heat concentration is considerable over the topical forests of Indonesia where there is still humidity/water vapor compared to the drought stricken Australia. The heat transfer off the west coast of Australia is noted.


March 6, 2008
1234 gmt
Global Pacific Satellite


March 6, 2008
1229 gmt
Western Hemisphere Satellite


March 6, 2008
1430z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop)
Noted the Mid-Atlantic anti-cyclonic vortex and the west coast system continues to build in dynamics. Interesting Gulf of Mexico clouds as well.

March 6, 2008

1228 gmt

Africa-Europe Satellite

Noted in this satellite is the Mid-Atlantic anti-cyclonic vortex. The heat transfer off the equator, across Africa at 4 o'clock to Antarctica is noted here. There is also a heat transfer reaching from the Amazon River Delta at 5 o'clock to the Antarctica ice fields.

The higher altitudes of Antarctica are having a return to frigid temperatures, but, the periphery is still too warm. It's approaching autumn.

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