STATE OF ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT

Transcription

1 FEDERAL SERVICE OF RUSSIA FOR HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING Federal State Budgetary Institution Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute Russian Antarctic Expedition QUARTERLY BULLETIN October December ( 77 ) STATE OF ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations St. Petersburg 217

2 FEDERAL SERVICE OF RUSSIA FOR HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING Federal State Budgetary Institution Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute Russian Antarctic Expedition QUARTERLY BULLETIN October December ( 77 ) STATE OF ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations Edited by V.V. Lukin St. Petersburg 217

3 UDK (99) (269) Editor-in-chief A.V. Voevodin (Russian Antarctic Expedition RAE) Authors and contributors: Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7 Section 8 A.V. Voevodin (RAE) Ye.I. Aleksandrov (Department of Sea-Air Interaction) G.Ye. Ryabkov (Department of Ice Regime and Forecasting) A.I. Korotkov (Department of Ice Regime and Forecasting) Ye.Ye. Sibir (Department of Sea-Air Interaction) Yu.G. Turbin, Ul yev V.А., L.N. Makarova (Department of Geophysics) S. G. Poigina, А.А. Kalinkin, V.I. Zaitsev (GS RAS) V.L. Martyanov (RAE) Translated by I.I. Solovieva Please, address proposals and comments to: Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Russian Antarctic Expedition, Bering str. 38, St. Petersburg Tel.: (812) ; Fax: (812) lukin@aari.ru The Bulletin is posted in the Internet at the site of the FSBI AARI of Roshydromet at RAE pages in the section Quarterly Bulletin Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE), 217

4 T A B L E OF C O N T E N T S PREFACE DATA OF AEROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN OCTOBER-DECEMBER REVIEW OF THE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES OVER THE ANTARCTIC IN OCTOBER-DECEMBER BRIEF REVIEW OF ICE PROCESSES IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN FROM DATA OF SATELLITE, SHIPBORNE AND COASTAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN RESULTS OF TOTAL OZONE MEASUREMENTS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN OCTOBER DECEMBER SEISMIC OBSERVATIONS IN ANTARCTICA IN MAIN RAE EVENTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF

5 1 PREFACE The activity of the Russian Antarctic Expedition in the fourth quarter of 216 was carried out at five permanent Antarctic stations - Mirny, Novolazarevskaya, Bellingshausen, Progress and Vostok and at the field bases Molodezhnaya, Leningradskaya, Russkaya and Druzhnaya-4 and in the field camp Oasis. The work was performed by the teams of the 61 st RAE over a full complex of the Antarctic environmental monitoring programs. At the field bases Molodezhnaya, Lenigradskaya, Russkaya and Druzhnaya-4 and in the field camp Oasis, the automatic weather stations AWS, model MAWS-11, and automatic geodetic complexes FAGS operated. Section I of the Bulletin contains monthly averages and extreme data of standard meteorological and solar radiation observations carried out at constantly operating stations during October-December 216 and data of upper-air sounding carried out at two stations - Mirny and Novolazarevskaya once a day at. of Universal Time Coordinated (UTC). In accordance with the International Geophysical Calendar, more frequent sounding during the periods of the International Geophysical Interval was conducted in 216 at h and 12 h UTC during 1 to 14 February, 2 to 15 May, 1 to 14 August and 7 to 2 November. The atmospheric pressure for the coastal stations in the meteorological tables is referenced to sea level. The atmospheric pressure at Vostok station is not referenced to sea level and is presented at the level of the meteorological site. Along with the monthly averages of meteorological parameters, the tables in Section 1 present their deviations from multiyear averages (anomalies) and deviations in f fractions (normalized anomalies (f-f avg )/ f ). For the monthly totals of precipitation and total radiation, relative anomalies (f/f avg ) are also presented. The statistical characteristics necessary for the calculation of anomalies were derived at the AARI Department of Meteorology for the period as recommended by the World Meteorological Organization. For Progress station, the anomalies are not calculated due to a short observation series. The Bulletin contains brief overviews with an assessment of the state of the Antarctic environment based on actual data for the quarter under consideration. Sections 2 and 3 are devoted to meteorological and synoptic conditions. The review of synoptic conditions (section 3) is prepared on the basis of the analysis of current aero-synoptic information, performed at the AARI. The analysis of ice conditions of the Southern Ocean (section 4) is based on satellite data received at Bellingshausen, Novolazarevskaya, Mirny and Progress stations and on the observations conducted at the coastal Bellingshausen, Mirny and Progress stations. The anomalous character of ice conditions is evaluated against the multiyear averages of the drifting ice edge location and the mean multiyear dates of the onset of different ice phases in the coastal areas of the Southern Ocean adjoining the Antarctic stations. As average and extreme values of the ice edge location, the updated data are used which are obtained at the AARI for each month from the results of processing the entire available historical archive of predominantly national information on the Antarctic for the period 1971 to 25. Section 5 presents a review of the total ozone (TO) using measurements at the Russian Antarctic stations and onboard the R/V Akademik Fedorov during her voyage in Antarctic waters (south of 55 S). The measurements are interrupted in the autumn and winter period at the Sun s height of less than 5. Data of geophysical observations published in Section 6 present the results of geomagnetic measurements and measurements of space radio-emission at Mirny, Novolazarevskaya, Vostok and Progress stations. Section 7 publishes the results of seismic observations at the stations of GS RAS Mirny and Novolazarevskaya in 216. Section 8 is devoted to the main events of RAE logistical activity during the quarter under consideration. Российские антарктические станции и полевые базы

6 2 RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS AND FIELD BASES MIRNY STATION Ст. Мирный STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 39.9 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = S; = 93 1 E GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES = ; = BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY December 7 January 5 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT No NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 119 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = 7 46 S; = 11 5 E GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES = ; = 51. BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY November 15 January 28 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT May 21 July 23 BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 895 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 15.4 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = S; = W BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY No BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT No PROGRESS STATION STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 14,6 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = S; = E BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY November 21 January 22 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT May 28 July 16 VOSTOK STATION STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 8966 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 3488 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = S; = E GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES = ; = BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY October 21 February 21 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT April 23 August 21 Field Base Molodezhnaya STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX HEIGHT OF AWS ABOVE SEA LEVEL 4 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = 67 4 S; = 46 8 E BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY November 29 January 13 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT June 11 July 2 Field Base Leningradskaya STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX HEIGHT OF AWS ABOVE SEA LEVEL 291 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = 69 3,1 S; = ,2 E Field Base Russkaya STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX HEIGHT OF AWS ABOVE SEA LEVEL 14 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = S; = ,9 E Field Base Druzhnaya-4 HEIGHT OF ABOVE SEA LEVEL GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES Field Camp Oasis (Bunger Oasis) 5 m = S; = E SYNOPTIC INDEX 8961 AWS HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 9 M GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = S; = E

7 3 1. DATA OF AEROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS OCTOBER 216 MIRNY STATION Table 1.1 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (f avg ) Parameter f f max f min Anomaly f-f avg Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/ f Mirny, October 216 Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % 69.. Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths Precipitation, mm Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 34. Prevailing wind direction, deg 11 Total radiation, MJ/m Total ozone content (TO), DU

8 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow cover thickness, cm Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Sea level air pressure, hpa 4 А B C D E F Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F) Mirny station, October 216

9 5 Table 1.2 Isobaric surface, P hpa Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Isobaric surface height, H m Temperatur e, T C Dew point deficit, D C Resultant wind direction, deg Resultant wind speed, m/s Wind stability parameter,% Mirny, October 216 Number of days without temperature data Number of days without wind data Anomalies of standard isobaric surface height and temperature Table 1.3 Mirny, October 216 P hpa (Н-Н avg ), m (Н-H avg )/ Н (Т-Т avg ), С (Т-Т avg )/ Т

10 6 NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (f avg ) Parameter f f max f min Anomaly f-f avg Table 1.4 Novolazarevskaya, October 216 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/ f Sea level air pressure, hpa Relative anomaly f/f avg Relative humidity, % Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths Precipitation, mm Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 39. Prevailing wind direction, deg 135 Total radiation, MJ/m Total ozone content (TO), DU

11 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow coverage, tenths Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Sea level air pressure, hpa 7 А B C D E F Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow coverage (F) Novolazarevskaya station, October 216

12 8 Table 1.5 Isobaric surface, P hpa Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Isobaric surface height, H m Temperatur e, T C Dew point deficit, D C Resultant wind direction, deg Resultant wind speed, m/s Novolazarevskaya, October 216 Wind stability parameter,% Number of days without temperature data Number of days without wind data Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Table 1.6 Novolazarevskaya, October 216 P hpa (Н-Н avg ), m (Н-H avg )/ Н (Т-Т avg ), С (Т-Т avg )/ Т

13 9 BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION Table 1.7 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (f avg ) Parameter f f max f min Anomaly f-f avg Bellingshausen, October 216 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths Lower cloudiness (sky coverage),tenths Precipitation, mm Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 23. Prevailing wind direction, deg 36. Total radiation, MJ/m

14 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow cover thickness, cm Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Sea level air pressure, hpa 1 А B C D E F Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F) Bellingshausen station, October 216

15 11 PROGRESS STATION Table 1.8 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) Progress, October 216 Parameter f f max f min Sea level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % 56 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5.8 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 4.3 Precipitation, mm 24.2 Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 28. Prevailing wind direction, deg 67 Total radiation, MJ/m

16 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow cover thickness, cm Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Sea level air pressure, hpa 12 А B C D 9 8 В 3 25 Г E F Д Е Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F) Progress station, October 216

17 13 VOSTOK STATION Table 1.9 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (f avg ) Parameter f f max f min Anomaly f-f avg Vostok, October 216 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Station surface level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths... Precipitation, mm Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 15. Prevailing wind direction, deg 25 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 Total ozone content (TO), DU

18 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow cover thickness, cm Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Air pressure, hpa 14 А B C D E F Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, ground level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line, precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F) Vostok station, October 216

19 15 O C T O B E R Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hpa (pressure at Vostok station is ground level pressure) Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/ f Air temperature, C Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/ f Relative humidity, % Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/ f Total cloudiness, tenths Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/ f Precipitation, mm Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok f/favg Mean wind speed, m/s Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf Fig.1.6. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations. October 216

20 16 NOVEMBER 216 MIRNY STATION Table 1.1 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg) Parameter f f max f min Anomaly f-f avg Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/ f Mirny, November 216 Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths Precipitation, mm Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 37. Prevailing wind direction, deg 11 Total radiation, MJ/m Total ozone content (TO), DU

21 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow cover thickness, cm Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Sea level air pressure, hpa 17 А B C D E F Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F). Mirny station, November 216

22 18 Table 1.11 Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Mirny, November 216 Isobaric surface, P hpa Isobaric surface height, H m Temperatur e, T C Dew point deficit, D C Resultant wind direction, deg Resultant wind speed, m/s Wind stability parameter,% Number of days without temperature data Number of days without wind data Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Table 1.12 Mirny, November 216 P hpa (Н-Н avg ), m (Н-H avg )/ Н (Т-Т avg ), С (Т-Т avg )/ Т

23 19 NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION Table 1.13 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg) Parameter f f max f min Anomaly f-f avg Novolazarevskaya, November 216 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths Precipitation, mm Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 27. Prevailing wind direction, deg 11 Total radiation, MJ/m Total ozone content (TO), DU

24 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow coverage, tenths Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Sea level air pressure, hpa 2 А B C D E F Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow coverage (F) Novolazarevskaya station, November 216

25 21 Table 1.14 Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Novolazarevskaya, November 216 Isobaric surface, P hpa Isobaric surface height, H m Temperatur e, T C Dew point deficit, D C Resultant wind direction, deg Resultant wind speed, m/s Wind stability parameter,% Number of days without temperature data Number of days without wind data Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Table 1.15 Novolazarevskaya, November 216 P hpa (Н-Н avg ), m (Н-H avg )/ Н (Т-Т avg ), С (Т-Т avg )/ Т

26 22 BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION Table 1.16 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg) Parameter f f max f min Anomaly f-f avg Bellingshausen, November 216 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths Precipitation, mm Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 19. Prevailing wind direction, deg 27 Total radiation, MJ/m

27 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow cover thickness, cm Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Sea level air pressure, hpa 23 А B C D E F Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F) Bellingshausen station, November 216 г

28 24 PROGRESS STATION Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) Table 1.17 Parameter f fmax fmin Sea level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % 51 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5.2 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 2.3 Precipitation, mm 2.6 Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 26. Prevailing wind direction, deg 9 Total radiation, MJ/m Progress, November 216

29 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow cover thickness, cm Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Sea level air pressure, hpa 25 А B C D В Г E F Д Е Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F) Progress station, November 216

30 26 VOSTOK STATION Table 1.18 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg) Parameter f f max f min Anomaly f-f avg Vostok, November 216 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Station surface level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths... Precipitation, mm Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 13. Prevailing wind direction, deg 18 Total radiation, MJ/m Total ozone content (TO), DU

31 Surface wind speed, m/sec Snow cover thickness, cm Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Air pressure, hpa 27 А B C D E F Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, ground level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F) Vostok station, November 216 N O V E M B E R 2 1 6

32 28 Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hpa(pressure at Vostok station is ground level pressure) Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf Air temperature, C Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf Relative humidity, % Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf Total cloudiness, tenths Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf Precipitation, mm Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok f/favg Mean wind speed, m/s Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf Fig Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations November 216

33 29 DECEMBER 216 MIRNY STATION Table 1.19 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (f avg ) Parameter f f max f min Anomaly f-f avg Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/ f Mirny, December 216 Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths Precipitation, mm Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 26. Prevailing wind direction, deg 11 Total radiation, MJ/m Total ozone content (TO), DU

34 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow cover thickness, cm Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Sea level air pressure, hpa 3 А B C D E F Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F) Mirny station, December 216

35 31 Table 1.2 Isobaric surface, P hpa Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Isobaric surface height, H m Temperatur e, T C Dew point deficit, D C Resultant wind direction, deg Resultant wind speed, m/s Wind stability parameter,% Mirny, December 216 Number of days without temperature data Number of days without wind data Table 1.21 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Mirny, December 216 P hpa (Н-Н avg ), m (Н-H avg )/ Н (Т-Т avg ), С (Т-Т avg )/ Т

36 32 NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION Table 1.22 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (f avg ) Parameter f f max f min Anomaly f-f avg Novolazarevskaya, December 216 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths Precipitation, mm Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 24. Prevailing wind direction, deg 11 Total radiation, MJ/m Total ozone content (TO), DU

37 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow coverage, tenths Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Sea level air pressure, hpa 33 А B C D E F Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow coverage (F) Novolazarevskaya station, December 216

38 34 Table 1.23 Isobaric surface, P hpa Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Isobaric surface height, H m Temperatur e, T C Dew point deficit, D C Resultant wind direction, deg Resultant wind speed, m/s Novolazarevskaya, December 216 Wind stability parameter,% Number of days without temperature data Number of days without wind data Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Table 1.24 Novolazarevskaya, December 216 P hpa (Н-Н avg ), m (Н-H avg )/ Н (Т-Т avg ), С (Т-Т avg )/ Т

39 35 BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION Table 1.25 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (f avg ) Parameter f f max f min Anomaly f-f avg Bellingshausen, December 216 г. Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths Precipitation, mm Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 2. Prevailing wind direction, deg 11 Total radiation, MJ/m

40 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow coverage, tenths Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Sea level air pressure, hpa 36 А B C D E F Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F) Bellingshausen station, December 216

41 37 PROGRESS STATION Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) Table 1.26 Progress, December 216 Parameter f f max f min Sea level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % 57 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 7.1 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 4.2 Precipitation, mm 4.6 Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 25. Prevailing wind direction, deg 9 Total radiation, MJ/m

42 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow cover thickness, cm Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Sea level air pressure, hpa 38 А B C D В 25 2 Г E F Д Е Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, sea level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F) Progress station, December 216

43 39 VOSTOK STATION Table 1.27 Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg) Parameter f f max f min Anomaly f-f avg Vostok, December 216 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Ground level air pressure, hpa Air temperature, C Relative humidity, % Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths Precipitation, mm Wind speed, m/s Maximum wind gust, m/s 12. Prevailing wind direction, deg 25 Total radiation, MJ/m Total ozone content (TO), DU

44 Daily precipitation sum,mm Snow coverage, tenths Relative humidity, % Surface wind speed, m/sec Surface air temperature, C Air pressure, hpa 4 А B C D E F Fig Variations of daily mean values of surface temperature (A, bold line), maximum (A, thin line), minimum (A, dashed line) air temperature, ground level air pressure (B), relative humidity (C), mean (D, thick line), maximum (D, thin line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F) Vostok station, December 216

45 41 D E C E M B E R Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hpa (pressure at Vostok station is ground level pressure) Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf Air temperature, C Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf Relative humidity, % Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf Total cloudiness, tenths Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf Precipitation, mm Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok f/favg Mean wind speed, m/s Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok (f-favg)/σf Fig Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations December 216

46 42 2. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN OCTOBER-DECEMBER 216 Figure 2.1 characterizes the air temperature conditions in October-December 216 at the Antarctic continent. It presents monthly averages, their anomalies and normalized anomalies of surface air temperature at the Russian and non- Russian meteorological stations. The actual data of the Russian Antarctic Expedition contained in [1] were used for the Russian Antarctic stations and data contained in [2, 3] were used for the foreign stations. The multiyear averages of surface temperature for the period were adopted from [4]. In October as compared with September, there was an increase in the number of stations with the above zero anomalies of mean monthly air temperature (Fig. 2.1). The main center of the area of above zero anomalies of air temperature was located in the coastal zone of the Queen Maud Land. Here at Syowa and Novolazarevskaya stations, the air temperature anomalies comprised 4.3 С (3.2 ) and 3.5 С (2.3 ). For Syowa and Novolazarevskaya stations, October 216 was the first warmest October for the period of operation of the stations. Small (less than 1 ) below zero air temperature anomalies were observed in the inland part of East Antarctica, western part of the Ross Sea and in the eastern part of the Weddell Sea. The largest of them was noted in the vicinity of Halley station ( 2.2 С,.8 ). In November, the area of the above zero anomalies of air temperature spread almost over the entire territory of Antarctica. The center of the heat area was near the South Pole in the area of Amundsen-Scott station (4.3 С, 1.9 ). For Amundsen-Scott station, November 216 was the second warmest November from There was a small by area zone of the below zero temperature anomalies on the Antarctic Peninsula in the vicinity of Rothera station. In December, like in November, the above zero air temperature anomalies were observed almost at all stations of Antarctica. The center of the heat area was still in the area of the South Pole. At Amundsen-Scott station, the air temperature anomaly was 2.5 С (1.5 ), where December 216 was the fifth warmest December over the entire observation period. A small cold area was located in the coastal zone of the Weddell Sea, and at Halley station the below zero air temperature anomaly comprised.5 С (.6 ). The statistically significant linear trends of long-period changes of mean monthly air temperature in these months at the Russian stations were detected only at Vostok station (Figs ). The air temperature increase at Vostok station in November and December was 2.8 С and 1.6 С, respectively for 59 years (Table 2.1). In the last decade one notes appearance of a tendency for the decrease of air temperature in November December at Bellingshausen station. It is not however statistically significant. The atmospheric pressure at Bellingshausen and Mirny stations in October December was characterized by small (less than 1 ) deviations from the multiyear average. At Novolazarevskaya station in October, a large negative air pressure anomaly ( 8.4 hpa, 2. ) was observed. Such low pressure in October was noted for the first time here. A large positive air pressure anomaly was observed in November at Vostok station (1.1 hpa, 2.1 ), where the air pressure in November 216 has become the new mean monthly maximum. In December at Novolazarevskaya and Vostok stations, the atmospheric pressure was close to a multiyear average. The statistically significant linear trends of long-period changes of mean monthly atmospheric pressure at the Russian stations in these months are observed in December at Bellingshausen, Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations (Figs ). The air pressure decrease in December at Bellingshausen, Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations was about 5.9 hpa/49 years, 4. hpa/6 years and 5.4 hpa/56 years, respectively. The amount of precipitation at all Russian stations in October, and in December was mainly below the multiyear average. At Vostok station in these months similar to February September of this year, there was a complete absence of precipitation. At the same time of interest is the monthly total of precipitation recorded in December at Mirny station, which significantly exceeds the multiyear average. The analysis of this case showed this to be a mistake resulting from precipitation being blown into the precipitation gauge.

47 43 Table 2.1 Linear trend parameters of mean monthly and mean annual surface air temperature Station Parameter I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII Year Entire observation period Novolazarevskaya С/1 yr % Р Mirny С/1 yr % Р Vostok С/1 yr % Р Bellingshausen С/1 yr % Р Novolazarevskaya о С/1 yr % Р Mirny о С/1 yr % Р Vostok о С/1 yr % Р Bellingshausen о С/1 yr % Р Notes: 1. First line is the linear trend coefficient. 2. Second line is the dispersion value explained by the linear trend. 3. Third line: P=1, where is the level of significance (given if P exceeds 9%). Peculiarities of meteorological conditions in 216 For characterizing the meteorological conditions in the territory of Antarctica in 216 we shall consider the spatial distribution of the average for the seasons and for the year air temperature anomalies at the Antarctic stations. As the seasons, the calendar seasons were taken and the summer season included December of the previous year. Table 2.2 and Fig. 2.5 present the values of anomalies of mean seasonal air temperature at the Antarctic stations in 216. In the summer season, over much of the territory of Antarctica there was an area of below zero air temperature anomalies. The main center of the cold area was traced in the region of the Weddell Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula. Here at Halley-Bay and Bellingshausen stations, the air temperature anomalies comprised 1 С ( 1.5 ) and.9 С ( 2.2 ) (Table 2.2). At Bellingshausen station, the summer season 215/216 was the third coldest season from In the Ross Sea area and in the inland part of East Antarctica at nearby Vostok station there was an area of small above zero air temperature anomalies with the center in the vicinity of McMurdo station (.9 С, 1. ). For McMurdo station, this is the eighth warmest summer season from 1957.

48 44 Table 2.2 Mean seasonal anomalies and normalized air temperature anomalies at the Antarctic stations, С Summer Autumn Winter Spring Summe Autumn Winter Spring Station r Anomalies Normalized anomalies Amundsen-Scott Novolazarevskaya Syowa Mawson Davis Mirny Casey Dumont D Urville McMurdo Rothera Bellingshausen Orcadas Halley-Bay Vostok Notes: 1. The summer season includes December of the previous year. 2. Bold print denotes the air temperature anomalies of 1.5 and more. In the autumn season, the below zero air temperature anomalies were preserved over much of Antarctica. The main center of the cold area was in East Antarctica in the coastal zone of the Cooperation Sea 1. Here at Davis station, the anomaly of mean seasonal air temperature was 1.6 С ( 1.1 ). The autumn season at this station was the twelfth coldest season from In the area of the Antarctic Peninsula, the South Pole, the Wilkes Land and the western part of the Queen Maud Land, small above zero air temperature anomalies were traced. The largest of them were observed at Novolazarevskaya station (1.1 С, 1. ). For Novolazarevskaya station, this is the seventh warmest season from In the winter season, the above zero air temperature anomalies were observed in the vicinity of the Queen Maud Land, South Pole and the Antarctic Peninsula. The center of the area of above zero anomalies was located in the region of the Queen Maud Land. Here at Syowa station, the air temperature anomaly was 2.3 С (1.5 ). The winter season of 216 was the seventh warmest winter season at the station from The main area of below zero anomalies of mean seasonal temperature covered the central and eastern parts of the Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica, the Ross Sea region. A small cold area was noted in the eastern Weddell Sea. The largest negative anomaly of air temperature was recorded near Davis station ( 2.1 С, 1.3 ). At Davis station, the winter season of 216 has become the fifth warmest winter season from In the spring season, the area of above zero air temperature anomalies spread almost the entire territory of Antarctica. Large above zero air temperature anomalies were observed in all regions of Antarctica. The highest values were recorded in the area of the Queen Maud Land and the Antarctic Peninsula. At Syowa and Novolazarevskaya stations, the anomalies comprised 1.7 С (1.8 ) and 1.6 С (1.6 ), respectively and thus, the spring season of 216 has become the fifth and the fourth warmest season for the period of operation of these stations. In general for the year, the values of anomalies of mean annual air temperature anomalies are not too large at most stations (see Fig. 2.1, Table 2.3). In the vicinity of the South Pole, coastal zone of the Queen Maud Land and the Antarctic Peninsula, there was an area of the above zero anomalies of mean annual air temperature. In the remaining part of Antarctica, one observed the below zero air temperature anomalies. The highest values of the above zero anomalies of mean annual air temperature were noted in the coastal zone of the Queen Maud Land. Here at Syowa and Novolazarevskaya stations, the anomaly was 1. С and the past year was the third and the fourth warmest year for the period of operations of the stations. The year 216 was the coldest at Davis station. It was the sixth coldest year from This geographical name is used on the Russian geographical charts denoting the area with coordinates of 67 o S, 7 o W.

49 45 Table 2.3. Mean annual air temperature (T С), its anomalies (ΔT С) and normalized anomalies (ΔT/σ) at the Antarctic stations in 216 1) Station T ΔT ΔT/σ Rank by decrease 2) Rank by increase 3) Largest anomaly Least Anomaly Amundsen-Scott (+1.9) 1983( 1.6) Novolazarevskaya (+1.6) 1976( 1.) Syowa (+2.2) 1976( 1.7) Mawson (+1.7) 1982( 2.2) Davis (+2.4) 1982( 2.4) Mirny (+1.9) 1993( 1.5) Casey (+2.5) 1999( 2.3) Dumont D Urville (+1.8) 1999( 1.5) McMurdo (+2.7) 1968( 1.5) Rothera (+3.) 198( 3.8) Bellingshausen (+1.8) 198( 1.5) Orcadas (+2.1) 198( 2.6) Halley-Bay (+2.) 1997( 2.8) Vostok (+2.2) 196( 2.) Notes: 1) The Table contains in brackets the values of the largest and smallest anomalies observed at each station; 2) The rank of the warmest years for the period of station operation; 3) The rank of the coldest years for the period of station operation. In 216, the new highest and lowest mean monthly air temperature values were recorded at the Antarctic stations (Table 2.4). Table 2.4 New highest and lowest mean monthly air temperature values at the Antarctic stations in 216, С Station New mean monthly maximum New mean monthly minimum Halley (VI) 34.3 С ( 7.7 C, 2.4 σ) Bellingshausen (IX, 28, 216) 1.3 С (3.1 С, 1.7 σ) Novolazarevskaya (X, 22, 216) 9.1 С (3.5 С, 2.3 σ) Syowa (X) 9.3 С (4.3 С, 3.2 σ) Note: anomalies and normalized anomalies are given in brackets. Considering the interannual changes of mean annual and average air temperature in some seasons for the period at separate stations (Table 2.5), one can note both general regularities in the changes covering significant territories of Antarctica, and manifestation of local peculiarities at specific stations.

50 46 Table 2.5 Linear trend parameters of mean seasonal and mean annual air temperature Station Summer Fall Winter Spring Year Bx D Bx D Bx D Bx D Bx D Amundsen-Scott Novolazarevskaya Syowa Mawson Davis Mirny Casey Dumont D Urville McMurdo Rothera Bellingshausen Orcadas Halley-Bay Vostok Amundsen-Scott Novolazarevskaya Syowa Mawson Davis Mirny Casey Dumont D Urville McMurdo Rothera Bellingshausen Orcadas Halley-Bay Vostok Amundsen-Scott Novolazarevskaya Syowa Mawson Davis Mirny Casey Dumont D Urville McMurdo Rothera Bellingshausen ,5 Orcadas Halley-Bay Vostok Note: the summer season includes December of the preceding year and January-February of the next year, Вх linear trend coefficient, С/1 yr; D dispersion value explained by the linear trend, %. Estimates of the linear trends of winter air temperature at the Antarctic stations showed the above zero air temperature trends to prevail. However, most of the trend values are insignificant statistically. The statistically significant positive trends are noted in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula and at the Atlantic coast (Rothera station, 4.6 C/ 6 years and Novolazarevskaya station, 1.4 С/ 56 years) respectively. The negative linear trends for the winter air temperature are detected only in the area of the South Pole, eastern part of the Indian Ocean coast and in the eastern part of the Weddell Sea. These trends are however statistically insignificant.

51 47 In the spring season, the above zero trends are present almost over the entire territory of Antarctica. The statistically significant trends take place for temperature in the central part of the Indian Ocean coast (Davis station), in the area of the Ross Sea (McMurdo station). At these stations, the air temperature increase was 1.9 and 2.8 С/ for 6 years. In the summer and autumn seasons the statistically significant increase of air temperature is still preserved in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula. At Rothera station, the increase of air temperature in the autumn season was 4.1 С/ 6 years, and at Bellingshausen station 1.2 С/ 49 years. In the inland regions a positive sign of the trend is also noted. Here, the largest trend value is recorded for the summer temperature at Vostok station,.9 С/ 59 years. An insignificant air temperature decrease persists in the central part of the Indian Ocean coast and in the eastern part of the Weddell Sea in the summer and autumn seasons. In general for the mean annual air temperature for the period at most Antarctic stations there is a positive linear trend. The statistically significant positive trends of mean annual temperature for the entire period are noted in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula (Rothera, 2.6 C/ 6 years), in the area of the Ross Sea (McMurdo, 1.6 С/ 6 years), at the inland Vostok station (.9 C/ 59 years). Tendencies for the decrease of mean annual air temperature for the period are observed in the area of the east coast of the Weddell Sea (Halley-Bay station comprising.8 С/ 6 years) and in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean coast (Dumont d Urville station), but these stations are statistically insignificant. In the last thirty years, almost at all stations of East Antarctica and in the last decade, almost at all stations of Antarctica one observes appearance of the negative linear trend. Thus, the results of monitoring of the thermal regime of Antarctica in 216 show that appearance of negative tendencies in the last decades (at the background of a long-term tendency for the air temperature increase at most stations) testify to slowing of the warming process in the South Polar Area.

52 48 Fig Mean monthly and mean annual values of (1) surface air temperatures, their anomalies (2) and normalized anomalies (3) in October (X), November (XI), December (XII) and in general for 216 (I-XII) from data of stationary meteorological stations in the South Polar Area

53 49 Fig Interannual variations of anomalies of air temperature and atmospheric pressure at the Russian Antarctic stations, October

54 5 Fig Interannual variations of anomalies of air temperature and atmospheric pressure at the Russian Antarctic stations, November

55 51 Fig Interannual variations of anomalies of air temperature and atmospheric pressure at the Russian Antarctic stations, December

56 52 Fig Values of mean seasonal air temperature anomalies at the Antarctic stations in 216, С References: Atlas of the Oceans. The Southern Ocean. GUNiO МО RF, St. Petersburg, 25/

57 53 3. REVIEW OF THE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES OVER THE ANTARCTIC IN OCTOBER-DECEMBER 216 The period under consideration is quite important for further development of the atmospheric macro-processes above the South Polar Area. At this time the climatic transition from the end of winter to the spring-summer season occurs. In October, the temperature difference close to the maximum between the temperate and high latitudes is preserved and spreading of the Antarctic drifting ice to the north remains to be maximal. Melting of ice and the snow cover and decrease of sea ice area begins in November and actively continues in December, which changes significantly the underlying surface in the polar region and influences changes of the atmospheric circulation above the high latitudes. In October, the intensity of the atmospheric circulation above the temperate and high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere was quite high corresponding to the seasonal-climatic multiyear average. A zonal form of the atmospheric circulation three days larger than the multiyear average was observed and the frequency of occurrence of the meridional forms of circulation was a little less than the multiyear average (Table 3.1). Cyclones both at zonal trajectories and at meridional passages to the shore of Antarctica often deepened to hpa, and sometimes to 94 hpa. The most active were the Central Atlantic, Kerguelen, Tasmanian and central Pacific branches of the meridional trajectories of the cyclones. Cyclones persisted more often above the Lazarev, Riiser-Larsen and Cosmonauts, Mawson and Amundsen Seas. At the passage of active cyclones to the Antarctic Seas, one often observed storm weather conditions over the coast of East Antarctica with the wind increase to 25 3 m/s, snowfall and strong snow storm, visibility deterioration to 1 m and less and air temperature increase during 24 h by 1 12 С (for example, at Dumont D Urville station one observed wind on 5 6 October up to 34 m/s with gusts up to 4 m/s [1]). The frontal divides of cyclones did not penetrate deep inland. The centers of subtropical anticyclones were displaced to the south of their normal position and their active ridges developed far to the south often with formation of independent high pressure cores at latitudes 45 5 S and in the Pacific Ocean sector sometimes also at latitude 6 65 S. The Antarctic High was developed within its multiyear average. In spite of a slightly increased duration of the zonal circulation form, the development of active meridional processes has noticeably influenced the formation of mean monthly thermal baric fields and their anomalies. Presence of meridional features in some zonal situations in the form of rapidly displaced meridionally developed ridges and troughs also contributed to this. In the field of anomalies of mean monthly pressure, three extensive sources of positive pressure anomalies were formed at 5 6 S above the southwestern water areas of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans having formed a three-wave configuration of this field [2]. Therefore, alternation of the areas of positive and negative pressure anomalies was observed over the shore regions of Antarctica. The most significant negative air pressure anomalies (up to 8 hpa) were noted above the coast of the Queen Maud Land and the positive (about +3 hpa, + 4 hpa) above the Antarctic Peninsula [4]. Active meridional processes contributed to the inter-latitudinal air exchange and outflow of relatively warm air to high latitudes. The above zero air temperature anomalies were recorded over the entire Antarctic coast, the most significant of them (up to 3 С) were observed above the coasts of the Queen Maud Land and Enderby Land. At the same time prolonged zonal processes prevented penetration of warm air masses to the central part of East Antarctica, and small below zero air temperature anomalies were noted above the Polar Plateau. Influence of cyclonic activity over West Antarctica above the Amundsen Sea reached inner regions of Mary Byrd Land. For example, according to AWS data at the inland Byrd station one observed on 5, and October the wind increase up to 13 2 m/s and air temperature increase from 5 С to 15 С during 24 h at active cyclones passing to the Amundsen Sea resulting in the formation of the above zero air temperature anomaly of more than 2 С in this region. Above the Antarctic Peninsula a zone of outflow of warm air masses (comprising the western periphery of high pressure ridges or the southeastern periphery of cyclones) remained much of the month, where according to data of Bellingshausen station, Esperanza Base and Rothera station [4], the above zero air temperature anomalies were observed. The center of the circumpolar vortex was displaced to the near-pole region (according to data at the 5 and 2 hpa levels) [2].

58 54 Table 3.1 Frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms of the Southern Hemisphere and their anomalies (days) in October December 216 Months October November December Frequency of occurrence Anomaly Z M a M b Z M a M b In November, there was a significant increase of the frequency of occurrence of meridional processes due to prolonged development of the circulation form М а of the atmosphere, which was observed during half a month, which is four days greater than the multiyear average. Zonal atmospheric processes developed rarer than the mean multiyear value (Table 3.1). Such development of the atmospheric circulation is not characteristic of the spring period, when one usually observes seasonal weakening of the meridional and increase of duration of zonal processes. Intensity of the atmospheric circulation above the temperate and high latitudes of the southern hemisphere was slightly increased as compared with the climatic level. In addition to zonal trajectories, which passed slightly to the north of the average position, cyclones were displaced more often along the South American, African, Kerguelen, Tasmanian and New Zealand East Pacific Ocean branches. At the exit to the Antarctic continent the cyclones usually persisted over the Davis and Mawson Seas and the Bellingshausen Sea and the southern water area of the Weddell Sea. The subtropical Highs occupied a more southern location as compared to the multiyear average and their centers above the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans were situated to the south of 3 and sometimes even 4 S. The ridges of these anticyclones developed far to the south combining sometimes with the ridges of the Antarctic High and often blocking situations were created. This provided conditions for the increased outflow of warm air from temperate to high latitudes. The high pressure ridges developed most actively at meridians of the Central and East Atlantic and the central part of the Pacific Ocean. The Antarctic surface High was significantly intensified. An area of the positive anomalies of mean monthly pressure was formed over the entire South Polar Area and the negative anomalies were noted only above the Antarctic Peninsula. The largest positive anomalies were observed above the Ross Sea (at the coast up to +9 hpa), the Polar Plateau (up to +6 hpa,+9 hpa) and the coasts of the Queen Maud Land and the Adelie Land (about +5 hpa). To the north, above 3 6 S, a belt of negative air pressure anomalies was formed, being broken above the east of the Pacific Ocean sector and above the Atlantic [2]. The entire South Polar Area was overtaken for the second month in succession with the above zero air temperature anomalies (about +2 С, +3 С over most of the regions). The heat flux reached the near-pole regions where the air temperature exceeded the mean multiyear values by 3 С, 4 С. The air temperature above the Antarctic Peninsula only slightly exceeded the multiyear average. The area of the above zero air temperature anomalies also covered the sub- Antarctic zone: at the South Orkneys Islands and Macquarie Island, the air temperature in November was approximately 1 С higher than the multiyear average [4]. Such prolonged air temperature increase above the Antarctic has made its contribution to the anomalous distribution of drifting ice in the Southern Ocean: the ice edge in November almost everywhere occupied the more southern position as compared with mean multiyear position and the area of Antarctic sea ice was less than the multiyear average [6, Quarterly Bulletin No.4 (77), section 4]. The circumpolar vortex was noticeably deformed and displaced to the region of the Atlantic-Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica [2]. In late November, the spring stratospheric modification above the high latitudes was completed and the west wind in the lower stratosphere changed to the east one. The stratospheric summer anticyclone was established above the South Polar Area [7]. In December the frequency of occurrence of the zonal circulation form sharply increased, exceeding the multiyear average by three days (Table 3.1). The thermal baric gradients above the temperate and high latitudes significantly decreased, the intensity of the atmospheric processes was noticeably reduced and the character of the general circulation of the atmosphere has attained a typically summer look. Cyclones in the Antarctic zone had more frequently a depth of hpa, rarely deepening to 965 hpa, and only nine cyclones with a depth of less than 96 hpa was noted in total for the whole month in the Antarctic zone. Among the meridional trajectories of cyclones most active were the South-American and West Atlantic, South African, Tasmanian and Central Pacific Ocean branches. Cyclones persisted more often above the Cosmonauts, Commonwealth, D Urville and Bellingshausen Seas. The Antarctic High was slightly intensified. The ridges of subtropical anticyclones usually developed in the south direction above the eastern water areas of all three oceans and above the Pacific Ocean also in its central part.

59 55 The distribution of mean monthly thermal baric fields in December had some similarity with the November distribution. The field of mean monthly air pressure has attained a more pronounced zonal configuration. A zone of positive air pressure anomalies (+1 hpa, +3 hpa) was preserved above the South Polar Area, and north of it above 4 6 S, there was a belt of negative anomalies that had an extensive break due to the presence of the zone of positive anomalies in the center of the Pacific Ocean sector. The air temperature background over the Antarctic including inland areas and sub-antarctic islands was still enhanced, while above small regions of the south coasts of the Ross and Weddell Seas, it was within the multiyear average. The increased air temperature during three months above the South Polar Area contributed to further intensive retreat of the drifting ice edge southward and a dramatic decrease of sea ice area, the negative anomaly of which reached its extreme value [6; Quarterly Bulletin No.4 (77), section 4]. The circumpolar vortex was displaced like in November to the African sector of East Antarctica. Fig Diagram of variations of anomalies of the frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms in the Southern Hemisphere (days) in 216 Assessing the year 216 in general, one can say that a tendency for intensification of zonal atmospheric processes was preserved in this period. As compared with 215, the dominance of zonal circulation was not so obvious. However, positive anomalies of zonal circulation form were observed in most months of the year (Fig. 3.1), and the annual anomaly of the frequency of occurrence of form Z comprised +1 days. The annual anomaly of atmosphere circulation form М а was 21 days and of form М в +11 days. Thus throughout the year there was a specific displacement of long baric waves as compared with their climatic location. The trajectories of cyclones often passed south of their usual routes. The Antarctic High was weakened much of the year, and negative air pressure anomalies prevailed over the Antarctic. Only in the end of the year (August, November and December) it began to intensify and exceeded the climatic level of development.

60 56 Fig Diagram of variations of anomalies of the frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms in the Southern Hemisphere (days) and their five-month running averages for the period (brighter color denotes running averages) Analyzing variations of anomalies of the frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms for the last decade (Fig. 3.2), one can see that the frequency of occurrence of the zonal form was higher than the multiyear average during almost the entire this period. Only in and , the frequency of occurrence of zonal processes was over some time below the multiyear average. As to the frequency of occurrence of the meridional forms, of interest is the obviously decreased development of form М а during the entire past decade. Two brief periods of a small excess of the frequency of occurrence of form М а of mean multiyear values were observed at the time of weaker zonality. The circulation form М в during this decade more frequently slightly exceeded the normal duration of development at its periodical decrease below the multiyear average. The year 216 is very similar to the past decade from the viewpoint of the development of the atmosphere circulation forms: increased zonality, weakened form М а and active development of form М в (Figs. 3.1, 3.2). The air temperature background changed its tendency throughout the year. The summer season (December-January) was close to mean multiyear conditions. The transient period to winter (February-April) was colder compared to the multiyear average. At the beginning and in the middle of the Antarctic winter (May-July) the temperature background was different. In August and then from October to December, the above zero air temperature anomalies predominated over the South Polar Area. It is necessary to note that in May 216, the end of the El-Nino event and the related to it South Oscillation (ENSO) that began at the border of , occurred [3, 5]. References:

61 57 4. BRIEF REVIEW OF ICE PROCESSES IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN FROM DATA OF SATELLITE, SHIPBORNE AND COASTAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN 216 The general tendency for the increase of sea ice area observed in the Antarctic during the last 3 years is still preserved (Fig. 4.1). However in 216, the sea ice extent of the Southern Ocean was mainly decreased. For the first time in the last 5 years the amount of residual ice by the end of summer in the middle of February did not exceed the multiyear average after the period of melting being approximately less by about 1% (.3 mln km 2 ). Besides, in winter the Antarctic ice belt was also for the second year in succession developed less than usually by.5 mln km 2 (3%). Fig Change of seasonal extremes of sea ice extent of the Southern Ocean (in deviations from the multiyear average of their mean monthly values in February and September) for the period [1] This decrease of sea ice extent is probably connected with the increased flow to the Antarctic zone of the Southern Ocean of warm deep waters of circumpolar origin. The surface traces of such flow were detected in ice in the form of extensive southward bends of the ice edge (bays in ice) and diverging zones south of the 65 th parallel in the regions of 5 and 4 E. As a result, the indications of development of the Weddell polynya south of the Maud Rise (65 S, 3 E) appeared inside the ice belt anomalously early already in the middle of August instead of early November. In the Cosmonauts Sea in the area between S and 4 45 E, an open sea polynya similar to the Weddell polynya with an area of more than 3 thousand km 2 existed during the entire second part of August. By the classical type of warm winters of the period , the ice events developed in the area of the South Shetland Islands. At Bellingshausen station, stable was delayed by 3.5 months and began only in late July and there also was no final freeze up of Ardley Bay (Table 4.1). As a result, the duration of the ice period was only about 3 months instead of half a year according to the multiyear average.

62 58 Station (water body) Mirny (roadstead ) Progress (Vostochn aya Bay) Bellingsh ausen (Ardley Bay) Table 4.1 Dates of the onset of main ice phases in the areas of the Russian Antarctic stations in 216 Actual Landfast ice breakup Ice clearance Ice formation Landfast ice formation Freeze up Start End First Final First Stable First Stable First Final NO 1 NO Multiyear NO avg Actual NO NO Multiyear avg Actual Multiyear avg NO NO NO Note 1 ) NO phenomenon not observed (does not occur). Even separate coastal regions were distinguished by the enhanced heat. Thus the temperature of the surface sea layer in the vicinity of Progress station has never dropped in winter below 1.8 С ( 1.9 С in the mean multiyear data). This has probably contributed to a catastrophic destruction of the front of the local outlet Dolk glacier, which began on 26 February and ended during the period 4 to 28 August by a series of 5 calvings. As a result, the entire area of the glacier bed in the station Vostochnaya Bay was filled with solid glacial mixture. Large and small icebergs and bergy bits and pieces under the conditions of anomalously low air temperatures up to 42 С were frozen together by small glacial and sea ice cake into an obstacle unsurpassable by ship. A significantly decreased background sea ice extent was preserved in the Southern Ocean until the end of the year. The ice cover area has decreased in October from 18.3 to 16.8 mln km 2, which is less than the multiyear average by 1 mln km 2 (5%); in November and December up to record low values of 12.9 and 5.9 mln km 2, respectively, which is less than mean multiyear values by about 2% (about 2 mln km 2 ). As to the other vivid individual peculiarities of the year, one should note an anomalously developed already from the end of September to the middle of November continuous wedge-like polynya along the northeast coast of the northeast coast of the Antarctic Peninsula in the Weddell Sea, the top of which extended to 69 S. Due to this recurring polynya in December 1893, the master of the Norwegian whale boat Jason K.А. Larsen made here the unrivaled up to now coastal voyage reaching 68 1 S. During the period of existence of this polynya, the break under of 5-year landfast ice began. It bound the northern (А) bend of the Larsen glacier between Cape Longing and Sills Mountains. At the beginning of December, multiyear landfast ice was completely destroyed. In the Bellingshausen Sea, beginning from November, one observed for the second year in succession the state under pressure up to 9 1 points of the ice belt that blocked the coast. In the vicinity of Russkaya station, drifting ice was vice versa very strongly pressed away from the shore. Besides, no reconstruction of the typical jagged projection of landfast ice destroyed in summer in the area of Cape Burks so far occurred. At the beginning of December, the area of the Weddell polynya represented by a giant zone of very open ice among close ice cover, comprised.5 mln km 2. By the middle of the month about.5 mln km 2 of ice more has melt, due to which an enormous water area between 6 68 S and 1 W 15 E (Fig. 4.2) was ice cleared. The Cosmonauts Sea was also distinguished by the decreased (by 4%) sea ice extent.

63 59 Fig Ice situation in the Southern Ocean in the middle of December 216 The Ross polynya expanded in the middle of December up to.4 mln km 2. The Balleny ice massif had as early as never before the extreme western position. As a result, the ice edge between E retreated anomalously far to the south up to 68 S, and the area of the Balleny Islands was completely ice-cleared. At the same time the ice edge between E reached the 65 th parallel where heavy ice from the massif rounded the meridionally elongated zone with increased density of icebergs opposite the Ninnis glacier and penetrated the D Urville Sea. The drifting ice here concentrated from the east side of the fast ice peninsula at 143 E, in the basis of which there is a long-living iceberg B9b (a remainder of a giant berg, stuck in the Commonwealth Bay in 212, which calved from the extreme eastern part of the Great barrier of the Ross ice shelf in B9b by the classification of the National Ice Center of the USA). As a result, the D Urville Sea in late 216 was distinguished by the increased sea ice extent due to preservation of the drifting ice belt which is not characteristic of it. This highly reminded the situation of three years ago, when the R/V Akademik Shokalsky was beset in the indicated drifting ice. Formation of frazil ice at the roadstead of Mirny station did not stop during the whole year, which determined the increased approximately by 2 cm thickness of landfast ice, even in spite of its deep snow cover, which exceeded two-fold the multiyear average (Table 4.2). The increased thickness of landfast ice in the vicinity of Progress station is on the contrary due to a very insignificant snow cover.

64 6 Table 4.2 Landfast first-year ice thickness and snow depth (in cm) in the areas of the Russian Antarctic stations in 216 г. Station Parameters M o n t h s II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII Ice Actual Mirny Multiyear average Snow Actual Multiyear average Ice Actual Progress Multiyear average Snow Actual Multiyear average Bellingshausen Ice - 22 Snow - 15 For discharge of fuel at Progress station instead of Vostochnaya Bay, unsuitable by iceberg situation, the Thala Bay located in 1 km to the west was used for the first time (Fig. 4.3). The traverse vehicles with tanks replenished fuel (Fig. 4.4) on a level segment of the glacier approximately in 6 m from the east shore of the bay at a height of 65 m above sea level (Fig. 4.5). A hose with a length of about 1.5 km was stretched from the R/V Akademik Fedorov, which due to decisiveness and skill of the ship master О.G. Kalmykov, penetrated landfast ice of Thala Bay (Fig. 4.6). The delivery of fuel to the station base of fuel-lubricants was made by traverse transporters along a 3-km route with reloading at the final segment to the fuel-servicing truck Ural 592 to overcome the rocky pass presenting a serious obstacle for cargo machines. Fig Scheme of fuel discharge at Progress station in Thala Bay on 3 5 January 217

65 61 Fig Bunkering of mobile oil base Fig Place of concentration of traverse vehicles with tanks on the glacier References: 1. Fig R/V Akademik Fedorov in Thala Bay

66 62 5. RESULTS OF TOTAL OZONE MEASUREMENTS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN 216 In 216, regular measurements of total ozone (TO) at three Russian Antarctic stations Vostok, Mirny and Novolazarevskaya and during cruises of the R/V Akademik Fedorov to the Antarctic were continued by the AARI and RAE specialists. Processing and analysis of the information reported from Antarctica were performed. The results of TO monitoring are presented in the quarterly bulletins State of Antarctic Environment [1], and in the WMO Antarctic Ozone Bulletins [2]. In the first part of 216, modification of circulation processes from the summer type to the winter type occurred above the Antarctic as usual at this time of the year. The total ozone over Antarctica was quite stable in the first half of the year at its slight decrease during autumn. Throughout summer and autumn the mean monthly values at all three stations in the Antarctic were higher than in 215 (Table 5.1, [1]). The destruction of the ozone layer in the Antarctic spring began almost 1 days earlier than in 215 [2-6]. In August, the ozone hole was larger by area compared to the previous two years. In the first several days of September, the change of the area occurred practically by scenario of 215 and then its size began to decrease, becoming inferior to the last year size but slightly exceeding the values of 214. The ozone hole reached its maximum values about 2 mln km 2 in the end of September 216 [3]. In the first part of October its area decreased to 19 mln km 2, which corresponds to the average values for the last decade. In the second part of November, the ozone hole began to rapidly shrink and was soon destroyed. Figure 5.1 presents mean daily values of total ozone, calculated for the entire period of observations and for two last Antarctic seasons (from July 215 to June 216). Grey color denotes the area including all TO values, observed for the specific day over the entire observation period (upper and lower boundaries of this area correspond to the maximum and minimum boundaries of mean daily TO values). 1 averaged for the entire observation period mean daily TO values, 2 mean daily TO values in the season , 3 mean daily TO values in the season Fig Mean daily total ozone values at the Russian Antarctic Mirny, Novolazarevskaya and Vostok stations One can get acquainted with a more detailed description of TO behavior at the Russian stations during the first three quarters of 216 in the AARI Quarterly Bulletins [1].

67 63 Table 5.1 Statistical characteristics of mean daily TO values (Dobson units) at the Russian Antarctic stations in 216 January February March April August September October November December Mirny Average σ Maximum Minimum (8.8) Novolazarevskaya Average σ Maximum Minimum (26.9) Vostok Average σ Maximum Minimum (9.1) In spring of 216, there was a decrease of ozone concentration, which was especially noticeable at Novolazarevskaya and Vostok stations (Fig. 5.1, Table 5.1). The minimum mean daily TO values at the stations in 216 were observed in different months of the season (Table 5.1). The TO in spring was less stable at all three stations than in 215. This was especially manifested at Mirny station, where unlike last year (when the development of the ozone hole was not typical for the last years), one observed significant from day-to-day fluctuations of ozone concentration characteristic of this station lately and its significant higher values compared to the other stations in the spring period. Such TO dynamics at this station can be attributed to a smaller stability of a circumpolar vortex in 216 and a frequent change of air masses with a different ozone concentration above this territory. Mean monthly TO values at all three stations from August (when observations begin after the polar night) and until the end of the year were comparable (in August and September at Novolazarevskaya station) and higher than in 215 (Table 5.1, [1]). The TO measurements were also carried out onboard the R/V Akademik Fedorov during her cruises to the Antarctic and back. Figure 5.2 presents the TO values measured onboard the ship and the corresponding coordinates of the ship. 1 TO, 2- latitude, 3- longitude Fig Latitudinal variations of total ozone concentration onboard the R/V Akademik Fedorov One can observe the absence of significant latitudinal TO variability in December-March (at the route to Antarctica and during the period of ship navigation in Antarctic waters) and the presence of dependence of TO increase

68 64 on the change of latitude in autumn in the Southern and correspondingly in spring in the Northern Hemisphere (especially in the latitudes north of 3 N at the return route of the research vessel). This is connected with the character of TO variability within the year in temperate latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, where the maximum in the annual variations is observed in spring and the minimum in autumn. References: 1. Quarterly Bulletin State of Antarctic Environment. Operational data of the Russian Antarctic stations. SI AARI, Russian Antarctic Expedition , No. 1 4; 2. Antarctic Ozone Bulletin, , No

69 65 6. GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN OCTOBER DECEMBER 216 Analysis of geophysical materials of Antarctic stations for the 4 th quarter of 216 Brief characteristics of solar activity The entire period October to December 216 is characterized by low solar activity. The number of sun spots for this period ranged from 2 to 7. The solar radio-emission flux at the wavelength of 1.7 cm had very low values from 7 to 11 W/m 2. The storm magnetic activity during the fourth quarter was also very low. During the period under consideration only one magnetic storm was observed on October, when the Dst - index value, which characterizes the world magnetic storms reached 1 nt, and the solar radio-emission flux increased to 11 W/m 2, that is, to its maximum value during the period under consideration. However at low solar activity connected with a small number of sun spots, high-speed fluxes were observed in the solar wind during the entire period with a clear about 14-day frequency of occurrence. The solar wind speed comprised sometimes ~ 7 кm/s. At the time of each passage of the fluxes of high-speed charged solar wind particles through the magnetosphere and its interaction with these fluxes the degree of the magnetic field perturbation in the auroral zone (auroral magnetic activity) slightly intensified and the amount of energy penetrating to the magnetosphere increased. But the planetary index of magnetic perturbation Кр does not practically exceed the values of 4 +. Hence the degree of magnetic perturbation in the period under consideration was not high and can be characterized only as moderate. The amount of energy incoming to the magnetosphere from solar wind is characterized by the РС index developed at the AARI Department of Geophysics and adopted in August 213 at the 12 th session of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) as a new international index of magnetic activity. Its values are calculated in the Department of Geophysics in real time and are presented in the form of a plot at the AARI site. The РС-index values exceeding 2 mv/m, determine the periods of increased sub-storm activity in the auroral zone (auroral magnetic activity) and increases of perturbation of the magnetosphere. Figure 6.1 shows the diagram of РС-index for the period October through December. On this diagram, the increased values of РС-index clearly identify all periods of the magnetosphere passage through fluxes of high energy solar wind fluxes. Fig РС-index diagram for the period October to December 216 Analysis of geomagnetic data Observations of the level of perturbation of the Earth s Magnetic Field (EMF) in the fourth quarter of 216 were carried out at Vostok, Novolazarevskaya, Mirny and Progress stations under a standard program.

70 66 As shown by the data analysis for the fourth quarter of 216 and a comparison of the results of four quarters of this year, the quality of absolute observations was significantly improved at all stations. The largest mean quadratic deviation of basis values was recorded at Novolazarevskaya station. By the Н-component the Earth s Magnetic Field (EMF) it was ±3.54 nt. At Novolazarevskaya station, it is necessary to urgently replace the variation station the unsuitability of which for further work is obvious. This was noted several times in the quarterly reports of the Department of Geophysics as well as the causes of poor functioning of variation instruments at this station. The best results were obtained at Vostok station by all three components D, H, Z.217 deg, 3.25 nt and 2.3 nt, respectively. This result can be considered good. At Progress and Mirny stations, the values are slightly higher, but can also be assessed as good. The average for the quarter absolute values of the EMF components are calculated from data of measurements, which are carried out during each quarter when determining the basis values of variation stations. Each of the obtained values includes not only the value of the main Earth s magnetic field, but also the value of the field of magnetic variations that occurred at the time of conducting absolute measurements. For this reason the changes of mean quarterly absolute EMF values do not have a definite trend and can differ significantly between each other both by the numerical expression and by the sign. An analysis of the data of absolute values of the magnetic field components, obtained during the entire year will make it possible to assess the degree of their variability and error of the estimate of their mean annual values. The mean annual absolute values of the Earth s magnetic field components at the Antarctic stations are presented in Table 6.1. Station Mean annual absolute values of the EMF components EMF components D H Z Mirny Novolazarevskaya Vostok Progress Table 6.1 As can be seen from the Table above, the magnetic field at Novolazarevskaya station differs significantly by the force components from the magnetic field of other Antarctic stations. Analysis of data of vertical sounding of ionosphere at Mirny station During the period under consideration October through December the ionosphere at Mirny station in Antarctica was constantly illuminated by the Sun s UV emission at the F-layer level. On the diagram of reflections from the F2 layer in October there are no data only at the time of the geomagnetic storm on October 216, when a high global magnetic (Dst 1 nt) and auroral perturbation (PC > 6) continued until 17 October. Processing of ionograms in such storm periods becomes more difficult due to the fact that the diffuse reflections do not have the critical frequencies of delay in the F layer. In November, a weaker global (storm) magnetic activity (values of Dst ~ 4 nt) and auroral activity (PC < 5) were observed. Under such conditions of weak perturbation there were no large disruptions in the processing of ionospheric parameters. December was the most quiet by geomagnetic data month (Dst ~ 2 nt). The PC-index values were not higher than 4. The illumination by UV emission of the ionosphere at Mirny station in December was maximum. The day and night data of critical F2-layer frequencies for December are fully presented in the diagrams. Thus, the ionosphere data show that the ionosphere processes are closely connected with the seasonal variability and with magnetic perturbations occurring in the Earth s magnetosphere. The analysis of performance of the ionosphere station of Mirny station based on the data obtained, showed that the instruments functions without failure. The observations made correspond to the observation program.

71 67 Analysis of riometer data A monthly set of the maximum (for each 24 h) absorption values was analyzed. The analysis presents an assessment of the work of riometers in general and the classification of riometer absorption increases depending on the factors influencing these increases. The increases with the amplitude greater than.5 db were analyzed. The main abbreviations used in the analysis, are as follows: SPE (solar proton event) a phenomenon of the increase of solar proton fluxes after strong solar bursts, registered in the interplanetary space and in the Earth s magnetosphere; fluxes of protons with the energy of 1 MeV (in the integral measurement of F> 1 MeV) make the largest contribution to the absorption; during the analysis such SPE were considered, which had the maximum intensity of F max (Ep> 1 MeV) 1 particle/cm 2 *s *steradian. Exactly at such intensity the PCA type absorption with the amplitude higher than.5 db begins its manifestation. PCA (type of polar cap absorption) a phenomenon of anomalous increase of absorption determined by solar proton fluxes during the SPE. AA (auroral absorption) a phenomenon of anomalous increase of absorption determined by fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of global or local geomagnetic perturbations. GA (geomagnetic activity) level of geomagnetic field perturbation. GP (geomagnetic perturbation) a phenomenon of the increase of geomagnetic activity; intensity of GP is assessed by the Кр index, which reflects a global character of geomagnetic perturbation; as a significant geomagnetic perturbation, the periods were considered where Кр 2, exactly at such intensity, the AA type absorptions with the amplitude higher than.5 db begin to be manifested. QDC (quiet day curve) a non-perturbed level of the space noise registered by riometer. It is determined by a special algorithm. BA (background absorption) stable increased or decreased absorption, which is approximately the same for several days, determined by unstable performance of riometer. BV (background variations) periodic (daily) absorption variations with the amplitude of.2.4 db; the BV are determined by drawbacks of processing, due to inaccuracy of QDC selection; the BV often have a sinusoid shape but in some cases differ significantly from it. The absorption increases of the impulse character can be caused by the global factors (SPE and GP), or the local factors (local increase of geomagnetic activity, increase of the level of interference or malfunction of riometer work). The prolonged increased (or decreased) similar absorption values can be caused by riometer fault (BA) or inaccuracy of the QDC (BV). The Internet data on the fluxes of solar protons (with the energy of 1 1 MeV) and on the level of geomagnetic activity (К р index) were used in the analysis. The maximum for the day absorption values were compared with variations of every minute absorption values presented at the site of the Department of Geophysics of the AARI. October No SPE phenomena were registered during the month. Five periods of geomagnetic perturbations were registered with the maximums on 4, 1, 13, 16, 25 October (Кр indexes are equal to 5, 3, 6, 4 + and 4, respectively). Vostok (32 MHz). Significant increases of absorption are absent during the month. Mirny (32 MHz). From 12 October to the end of the month, one observes increased background absorption of about.5.7 db. Probably, the cause of background absorption is processing inaccuracy. At this background, three periods of sharp absorption increase were registered with the maximums on 1, 17 and 26 October (amplitudes А max = 2.2 db, 1.9 and 1.7 db, respectively), which are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level. Progress (32 MHz). During the month, one observes five absorption increases with the maximums: on 2, 16, 23, 25 and 3 October (amplitudes, А max = 1.8, 9.5, 1., 2.6 and 2. db, respectively, which are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level. Novolazarevskaya (32 MHz). During the month, one observes eight periods of the increased absorption level with the maximums: on 4, 8, 1, 14, 17, 23, 25 and 29 October (amplitudes at the rangе А max = from 1.9 to 7.8 db). The increases are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level.

72 68 November No SPE phenomena were registered during the month. Three prolonged periods of geomagnetic perturbations with two maximums were registered in each period on 1 and 3, 1 and 13, 23 and 25 November (values of Кр index = 4 + and 4, 4 + and 4 +, 4 and 5 ). Vostok (32 MHz). There are no significant (more than.5 db) absorption increases during the month. In the second part of the month, one observes absorption variations at the range of.2.5 db with periods of 3 7 days. Mirny (32 MHz). From 1 to 17 and from 27 to 3 November, one observes increased background absorption of about.5.7 db. Three periods of absorption increase are registered with the maximums on 13, 19 and 26 November (amplitudes А max = 1.5, 2.7 and 1. db, respectively), which are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level. Progress (32 MHz). During the month one observes five absorption increases with the maximums: on 2, 13, 18, 25 and 27 November (amplitudes А max = 1.6, 1.7, 1.1, 1.1 and.8 db, respectively), which are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level. Novolazarevskaya (32 MHz). During the whole month one observed increased background absorption of about.5 db. At this background a series of absorption increases was registered with the maximums on 3, 6, 9, 13, 19, 21, 25 and 28 November (amplitudes at the range А max = from 1.1 to 3.8 db). These increases are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA. December No SPE phenomena were registered during the month. Three prolonged periods of geomagnetic perturbations are observed with the maximums on 9, 18 and 21 December (values of Кр index = 4 +, 3 and 6, respectively). Vostok (32 MHz). There are no significant (more than.5 db) absorption increases during the month. From 13 to 28, one observes absorption variations at the range of values of.2.5 db with periods of 3 5 days. Mirny (32 MHz). During the month one observes five periods of increased absorption level with duration of 2 5 days with the maximums on 4, 1, 16, 21 and 26 December (amplitudes А max =.8, 1.2,.6,.8 and 1.1 db, respectively). The absorption increases are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level. Progress (32 MHz). Two periods on increased absorption are observed during the month from 6 to 11 with the maximums on 8 and 11 (amplitudes, А max = 1.5 and 1.2 db, respectively), and from 17 to 28 December with the maximums on 9, 21, 24 (amplitudes, А max =.9, 1.2 and.9 db, respectively), which are AA. The periods are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level. Novolazarevskaya (32 MHz). One observes in the first part of the month a stable absorption increase until 1 December (amplitude А max = 4. db) and a rapid drop to small values on December (amplitude А max =.5 1. db). In the second part of the month, one observes a series of sharp absorption increases on 17, 2, 23, 26 and 31 December (with the maximums А max = 6.3, 1.7, 4., 4.5 and 4 db, respectively). All dramatic increases are AA and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA. The total monthly trend of the absorption trend correlates well with the change of global geomagnetic activity. Conclusions During the period under consideration, no PCA phenomena were registered. Numerous AA phenomena were registered at all stations except for Vostok station. The work of riometers for the period under consideration is characterized as follows: 1. At Vostok station, the riometer functioned normally; 2. At Mirny station, the riometer functioned normally; 3. At Progress station, the riometer functioned normally; 4. At Novolazarevskaya station, the riometer functioned normally.

73 69 DATA OF CURRENT OBSERVATIONS MIRNY STATION Mean monthly absolute values of the geomagnetic field Declination Horizontal Vertical component component October 88º41.6 W nt 5736 nt November 88º42.1 W nt nt December 88º48.4 W nt 5774 nt Basis values of IZMIRAN variometer Date D deg H, nt Z, nt Average values RMSD

74 7 Fig Maximum daily values of space radio-emission absorption at the 32 MHz frequency from data of riometer observations at Mirny station

75 71 Fig Daily values of critical frequencies of the F2 (f F2)-layer at Mirny station

76 72 NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION Mean monthly absolute values of the geomagnetic field Declination Horizontal Vertical component component October 29º45.6 W nt nt November 29º46.4 W nt nt December 29º46.7 W nt nt Basis values of IZMIRAN variometer Date D deg H, nt Z, nt Average values RMSD

77 73 Fig Maximum daily values of space radio-emission absorption at the 32 MHz frequency from data of riometer observations at Novolazarevskaya station

78 74 PROGRESS STATION Mean monthly absolute values of the geomagnetic field Declination Horizontal Vertical component component October 79º39.6 W 1697 nt 5893 nt November 79º39.4 W nt 5898 nt December 79º39.3 W nt 588 nt Basis values of LEMI-22 variometer Date D deg H, nt Z, nt Average values RMSD

79 75 Fig Maximum daily values of space radio-emission absorption at the 32 MHz frequency from data of riometer observations at Progress station

80 76 VOSTOK STATION Mean monthly absolute values of the geomagnetic field Declination Horizontal Vertical component component October 124º26.7 W nt nt November 124º27.6 W nt nt December 124º18.8 W nt nt Basis values of IZMIRAN variometer Date D deg H nt Z nt Average values RMSD

81 77 Fig Maximum daily values of space radio-emission absorption at the 32 MHz frequency from data of riometer observations at Vostok station

82 78 7. SEISMIC OBSERVATIONS IN ANTARCTICA IN 215 In 215, seismic observations in Antarctica which have been carried out from 1962 were continued at the stationary Novolazarevskaya station of the RAS Geophysical Service (GS). The observations were carried out by a three-component broadband seismometer in a set with a 16-charge digital seismic station SDAS, developed and produced by the GS RAS (Obninsk) jointly with the Scientific-Production Association "Geotekh [1]. These instruments with a bandwidth of.4 5 Hz, a sampling rate of 2 readouts a second and a dynamic range of about 9 db allow applying a modern digital level of collection, storage and processing of seismic records [2]. The digital records of earthquakes were computer-processed and were archived on compact-disks, which upon the return of the expeditions were passed to the archive of GS RAS. Processing of digital records of earthquakes at Novolazarevskaya station was carried out in accordance with the methodologies [4, 5] by means of the WSG software, developed by the GS RAS [3] and included identification of arrivals of seismic waves, determination of the time and precision of arrivals, identification of seismic waves and determination of the main parameters of earthquakes (time in the source, distance to the epicenter and magnitude). The interpretation results were recorded in the electronic database, on the basis of which daily operational reports were prepared and sent to the Information-Processing Center (IPC) of GS RAS. These data were used for summary processing of earthquakes in preparation of decadal Seismological Bulletins of GS RAS [6]. From 1 January to 31 December 215, Novolazarevskaya station registered 627 arrivals of seismic events. During the period 1 January to 15 March 215, full processing was performed with determination of the main source parameters for 167 earthquakes (A.A. Kalinkin, seismologist of the 59 th RAE). During the period 18 March to 31 December due to problems with the equipment, full processing with determination of the main source parameters was performed only for 96 earthquakes. Due to technical reasons (synchronization of digital watch with precise time was rarely made), most data cannot be referenced to precise time. Therefore, data of Novolazarevskaya station were used at RAS GS in 215 only for summary processing of 186 earthquakes, of them 33 with MPSP 6., including 11 with MPSP 6.5 (Table 7.1). Table 7.1 presents main parameters of strong earthquakes of 215, based on the data of Seismological Bulletins [6], and it is shown, which of them were registered at Novolazarevskaya station. No. Table 7.1 Earthquakes with a magnitude MPSP 6., recorded at Novolazarevskaya station from 1.1 to Date dd.mm Time at the source (by Greenwich) hh:mm:ss Epicenter coordinates,, Depth h, km MPSP Region Epicentral distance to station NVL (, ) :19: Sangihe Islands 2) :47: Vanuatu (New Hebrides) ) :43: West of Tonga :29: Region of Marianas Islands :49: Mendoza Province, Argentina :57: Jujuy Province, Argentina :59: North-Atlantic Ridge :: Region of the South Sandwich Islands :6: East coast of Honshu :46: East coast of Honshu :32: Solomon Islands :18: Vanuatu (New Hebrides) :25: Near the east coast of Honshu :23: Near the coast of Jalisco, Mexico :45: Flores Sea :37: South Sumatra :18: Andreanof Islands :12: Moluccan Strait :42: Solomon Islands :51: Northern Chile :36: Northern Chile :48: Region of New Britain :7: Crete Island :42: Region of Taipei :57: Santa-Cruz Islands :36: South Island, New Zealand :11: Nepal

83 No. Date dd.mm Time at the source (by Greenwich) hh:mm:ss Epicenter coordinates,, Depth h, km 79 MPSP Region Epicentral distance to station NVL (, ) :45: Nepal :9: Nepal :45: Region of New Britain :6: Region of New Britain :44: Region of New Britain + 4) :1: Solomon Islands :12: North Sumatra :5: Nepal :36: Nepal :12: East coast of Honshu :4: Solomon Islands :25: South-Pacific Rise :48: Region of Santa-Cruz Islands :53: South-Atlantic Ridge :: Alaska Peninsula :23: Region of the Bonin Islands :49: South of Honshu :51: Near the east coast of Honshu :7: Tonga :51: South-Atlantic Ridge :1: Coast of Central Chile :18: Region of the Bonin Islands :32: South Alaska :39: Region of New Britain :35: Solomon Islands :7: Province of South Hinjiang :43: Leite :1: Area of the Kuril Islands :12: Solomon Islands :16: North Atlantic Ocean :49: West of Tonga :27: Santa-Cruz Islands :5: South of Java :49: Fox Islands :41: West Irian :1: Panama-Columbia border area :35: South Alaska :59: South of Fiji :12: Solomon Islands :49: Solomon Islands :47: Solomon Islands :42: Region of Mariana Islands :: Moluccan Strait :18: Celebes Sea :14: California Bay :4: Moluccan Strait :54: Coast of Central Chile :3: Coast of Central Chile :18: Coast of Central Chile :38: Near the coast of Central Chile :55: Coast of Central Chile :1: Coast of Central Chile :39: Coast of Central Chile :39: Coast of Central Chile :12: Coast of Central Chile :53: Region of West Irian :56: Solomon Islands :51: Coast of Central Chile :4: South Sumatra :26: Coast of Central Chile :33: Coast of Central Chile :52: Vanuatu (New Hebrides) 92.96

84 No. Date dd.mm Time at the source (by Greenwich) hh:mm:ss Epicenter coordinates,, Depth h, km 8 MPSP Region Epicentral distance to station NVL (, ) :9: Hindu Kush :16: North Chile :15: Andreanof Islands :44: Timor :31: Coast of Central Chile :4: Near the coast of Central Chile :53: Coast of Central Chile :34: North Sumatra :46: Area of Nicobar Islands :3: Andreanof Islands :54: Coast of Central Chile :46: Near the coast of Central Chile :45: Java :4: Province of Santiago d Estero, Argentina :51: East-China Sea :2: East-China Sea :1: Greece :31: Solomonov Islands :6: Banda Sea :16: Afghanistan Tajikistan border area :21: Mariana Islands :45: Peru-Brazil border area :5: Peru-Brazil border area :45: Peru-Brazil border area :: Coast of North Chile :51: Kuril Islands :24: South-East Indian Ridge :5: Tajikistan :21: Banda Sea :49: Chiapas, Mexico :47: Kalimantan (Borneo) :14: Afghanistan Tajikistan border area + Total registered earthquakes with MPSP Total earthquakes participating in summary processing with MPSP Notes: 1) MPSP magnitude characteristic of the earthquake force, which is calculated from measurements of amplitudes and the periods in the maximum phase of the longitudinal Р wave on the records short period instruments (SP short period), corresponds to the international magnitude m b. 2) results of processing of the given earthquake are absent in the station log. 3) 9.96 (Epicentral distance in degrees) shown for parameters of the sources, in the summary processing of which this station participated. 4) + the station log has the results of earthquake processing and they are not included to summary processing due to different causes. Most of the epicenters of earthquakes recorded at Novolazarevskaya station are situated in the Southern Hemisphere in the areas within the Pacific Ocean seismic belt [7], a significant number is located in the territory of Indonesia, Vanuatu, New Zealand, South America, South Sandwich Islands, Solomon Islands, Santa-Cruz Islands Atlantic and South-Pacific oceanic ridges (Fig. 7.1 а). During processing of the records of earthquakes at the station, the coordinates of the epicenters were rarely determined and with a large error, so for construction of charts (Fig. 7.1a) these data were adopted from the Seismological Bulletin [6] and the Electronic Catalogue IDC (International Data Centre Vienna, Austria) from the site of the International Seismological Center ISC (Great Britain) [8]. The analogues in the indicated sources were found only for a small number of seismic events in the station log at Novolazarevskaya station from the indicated sources [6, 8], so the epicenters of only 21 earthquakes with m b 4.6 were mapped.

85 81 а) б) Fig.7.1. Charts of the epicenters of earthquakes, recorded by Novolazarevskaya station in 215 on the Earth (а) and in the area of the seismic belt of Antarctica (b) [7] from data [6, 8]: 1 magnitude MPSP (m b ); 2 seismic station From data of [8] two earthquakes occurred in the coastal part of Antarctica in 215 (they are denoted by arrows in Fig. 7.1 b): on 27 February at 14 h 12 m at the southeast coast of Antarctica (coordinates: S, E) with m b 4.3 and on 14 March at 23 h 32 m near Siple Island, Antarctica (coordinates: S, W) с m b 4.6. The registration capacities of Novolazarevskaya station ( =39 ) have not allowed registration of the event on 27 February, but the first arrival of a stronger earthquake on 14 March ( =35.5 ) was registered (Fig. 7.2).

86 82 Fig.7.2. Record of Novolazarevskaya station of the arrival of Р-wave from the earthquake on 14 March at 23 h 32 m in the area of Antarctica with m b 4.6 ( =35.5 ). Below of blue color initial record; at the top of red color filtered in the band of Hz All observation materials (CD) and the results of processing the data (reports and databases) obtained at Novolazarevskaya station are stored in the archive of the GS RAS (Obninsk) and are provided on request to a wide range of users. The authors acknowledge the help of the staff of RAS GS Dr. V.F. Babkina and Dr. O.P. Kamenskaya for preparation of the materials to the article. References: 1. О.Ye. Starovoit, I.P. Gabsatarova, D.Yu. Mekhryushev, А.V. Korotin, S.А. Krasilov, V.V. Galushko, Yu.N. Kolomiyets, S.G. Poigina, О.P. Kamenskaya. Study, development and creation in the Russian Federation of the system of seismic and geodynamic observations for continuous national and global seismic monitoring. Report under Agreement of Obninsk: Archives of GS RAH, 24. p Report of GS RAS for under topic 1 NIR Continuous seismological, geophysical and geodynamic monitoring at the global, federal and regional levels, improvement and development of its methods and means (Head Corresponding member of RAS А.А. Malovichko). Obninsk: Archives of GS RAH, p. 3. Krasilov S.А., Kolomiyets М.V., Akimov А.P. Organization of the process of processing of digital seismic data with the use of the WSG software complex// Modern methods of processing and interpretation of seismological data. Materials of seismological school. Obninsk: GS RAS, 26. P Instruction about the order of making and processing observations at seismic stations of the USSR uniform system of seismic observations. М., Nauka, p. 5. Gabsatarova I.P., Poigina S.G. Scenario of daily processing of a three-component record of one station by the WSG software v and higher. Annex 3 // Results of complex seismological and geophysical observations and data processing at the base of stationary and mobile seismic networks (Report of TSOME GS RAS for 24) / Edited by D.Yu. Mekhryushev. Obninsk: Archives of GS RAH, Seismological Bulletin (published every 1 days) for January December 215 / Editor-in-Chief О.Ye. Starovoit. Obninsk GS RAS, Gutenberg B. and Rikhter Ch. The Earth s seismicity. М.: Foreign literature, p. 8. International Seismological Centre (ISC) [сайт]. On-line Bulletin. URL: Thatcham, United Kingdom: ISC, 216.