Antarctic Soil Climate Data at Oil Contamination Sites

January 1999 through December 2001 data from soil climate stations at oil contamination and control sites in Antarctica's Ross Sea Region. The dataset contains monthly summaries of soil temperature, soil moisture, and related atmospheric variables like air temperature, humidity, and wind. It was collected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to study the environmental impact of oil spills.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the impact of oil spills on soil thermal and hydrological regimes by comparing contaminated and control site data.
• Modeling soil-atmosphere energy exchanges in polar regions using recorded soil temperature, net radiation, and wind speed.
• Studying seasonal freeze-thaw cycles and soil moisture dynamics in Antarctic coastal areas.
• Correlating atmospheric conditions (air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation) with subsurface soil measurements.

Strengths

• Provides a three-year continuous record from January 1999 to December 2001.
• Includes data from both contamination sites (Scott Base, Marble Point, Bull Pass) and nearby control sites for comparative analysis.
• Measures multiple interrelated variables: soil temperature, soil moisture, air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, net radiation, wind speed, and direction.

Limitations

• Conflicting last updated dates: one source lists 2026-03-12, another lists 2001-12-31, suggesting potential metadata inconsistency.
• Exact row count and file size are not specified in any source.
• The full dataset is not directly hosted; the summary data is provided, with the complete set available from a separate contact.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with data available via NSIDC.

Collection Method

Sensors at soil climate stations recorded measurements at existing oil contamination and control sites.

Time Range

1999-01 to 2001-12

Freshness

2026-03 12 23:20:54.831565

Geography

Ross Sea Region, Antarctica (Scott Base, Marble Point, Bull Pass).