Antarctic Snow Transport and Atmospheric Turbulence Measurements Near Syowa Station

Measurement and simulation data characterize standard meteorology, turbulence, and snow transport at the S17 site near Syowa Station in East Antarctica during the austral summer of 2018/2019. An automatic station recorded data from January 10 to 26, 2019, equipped with sensors including a 3D ultrasonic anemometer and a snow particle counter. The dataset also includes large-eddy simulations of two 10-minute intervals and remote sensing data from a tilted Micro Rain Radar.

Use Cases

• Analyze correlations between ultrasonic anemometer turbulence data and snow particle counter readings to model snow transport initiation.
• Use the simulated horizontally averaged quantities as a function of height to validate bulk aerodynamic formulas for sensible and latent heat flux.
• Calibrate remote sensing algorithms for blowing snow by comparing tilted Micro Rain Radar data with near-surface in-situ snow particle measurements.
• Investigate surface temperature variability from the infrared radiometer data in relation to changes in snow surface elevation from the sonic ranging sensor.

Strengths

• Combines in-situ measurements (e.g., 3D ultrasonic anemometer, snow particle counter) with remote sensing (tilted Micro Rain Radar) and numerical simulations (large-eddy simulations).
• Simulations cover a specific 18 x 18 x 6 m³ domain, reproducing steady-state conditions for two distinct 10-minute observational intervals.
• Temporal coverage includes concurrent measurement periods, such as MRR data from December 25, 2018, to January 24, 2019.

Limitations

• Limited temporal scope, with core automatic station measurements covering only a 16-day period in January 2019.
• Spatial coverage is restricted to a single site (S17) and a specific radar location approximately 500 meters away.
• Sample data and specific row/column counts are unavailable, making initial assessment of data volume and structure difficult.

Provenance

Source

ENVIDAT, potentially originating from a research expedition to Syowa Station, Antarctica.

Collection Method

In-situ sensor measurements, remote sensing via a tilted Micro Rain Radar, and computational large-eddy simulations.

Time Range

Primary measurement period: December 25, 2018, to January 26, 2019.

Freshness

Data reflects conditions from the 2018/2019 austral summer, with a last known update in 2021.

Geography

S17 site near Syowa Station in East Antarctica.