QUARTERLY BULLETIN 4 (33) October - December 2005 Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations

FEDERAL SERVICE OF RUSSIA FOR HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING State Institution the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute Russian Antarctic Expedition QUARTERLY BULLETIN 4 (33) October - December 2005 Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations St. Petersburg 2006

FEDERAL SERVICE OF RUSSIA FOR HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING State Institution the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute Russian Antarctic Expedition QUARTERLY BULLETIN 4 (33) October - December 2005 STATE OF ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations Edited by V.V. Lukin St. Petersburg 2006

Authors and contributors Editor-in-Chief M.O. Krichak (Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE) Department), Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7 M.O. Krichak (RAE), Ye.I. Aleksandrov (Department of Meteorology), L.Yu. Ryzhakov (Department of Long-Range Weather Forecasting), A.I. Korotkov (Department of Ice Regime and Forecasting), Ye.Ye. Sibir (Department of Meteorology), I.P. Yeditkina, I.V. Moskvin, V.A. Gizler (Department of Geophysics), V.L. Martyanov (RAE). Translated by I.I. Solovieva http://south.aari.nw.ru, Antarctic Research and Russian Antarctic Expedition, Documents, Quarterly Bulletin. Acknowledgements: Russian Antarctic Expedition is grateful to all AARI staff for participation and help in preparing this Bulletin. For more information about the contents of this publication, please, contact Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of Roshydromet Russian Antarctic Expedition Bering St., 38, St. Petersburg 199397 Russia Phone: (812) 352 15 41 Fax: (812) 352 28 27 E-mail: lukin@raexp.spb.su

CONTENTS PREFACE....1 1. DATA OF AEROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS..3 2. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN OCTOBER DECEMBER 2005 24 3. REVIEW OF THE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES ABOVE THE ANTARCTIC IN OCTOBER DECEMBER 2005.....33 4. BRIEF REVIEW OF ICE PROCESSES IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN BASED ON SHIPBORN, SATELLITE AND COASTAL OBSERVATION DATA AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN 2005...36 5. TOTAL OZONE MEASUREMENTS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN 2005...42 6. GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN OCTOBER DECEMBER 2005....45 7. MAIN RAE EVENTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2005....53

1 PREFACE The Bulletin is prepared on the basis of data reported from the Russian Antarctic stations in real time via the communication channels. The Bulletin is published since 1998 on a quarterly basis. Section I in this issue presents monthly averages and extreme data of standard meteorological and solar radiation observations and upper-air sounding for the fourth quarter of 2005. Standard meteorological observations are being carried out at present at Mirny, Novolazarevskaya, Bellingshausen, Progress and Vostok stations. The upper-air sounding is undertaken once a day at 00.00 universally coordinated time (UT) at two stations - Mirny Observatory and Novolazarevskaya station. More frequent sounding is conducted during the periods of the International Geophysical Interval in accordance with the International Geophysical Calendar in 2005 from 7 to 20 February, 2 to 15 May, 8 to 21 August and 7 to 20 November at 00 h and 12 h UT. In the meteorological tables, the atmospheric pressure values for the coastal stations are referenced to the sea level. The atmospheric pressure at Vostok station is not reduced to the sea level and is presented at the meteorological site level. Along with the monthly averages of meteorological parameters, the tables in Section 1 present their deviations from multiyear averages (anomalies) and deviations in σ f fractions (normalized anomalies (f-f avg )/ σ f ). For the monthly totals of precipitation and total radiation, the relative anomalies (f/f avg ) are also presented. For Progress station, the anomalies are not calculated due to a short observations series. The statistical characteristics necessary for the calculation of anomalies were derived at the AARI Department of Meteorology for the period 1961-1990 as recommended by the World Meteorological Organization. The Bulletin contains brief overviews with an assessment of the state of the Antarctic environment based on the actual data for the quarter under consideration. The reviews for the 4 th quarter also contain the corresponding estimates for the entire year. Sections 2 and 3 are devoted to the meteorological and synoptic conditions. The review of synoptic conditions (section 3) is based on the analysis of current aero-synoptic information, which is performed by the RAE weather forecaster at Novolazarevskaya station and on more complete data of the Southern Hemisphere reported to the AARI. The analysis of ice conditions in the Southern Ocean (Section 4) is based on satellite data received at Bellingshausen, Novolazarevskaya and Mirny stations and on the observations conducted at the coastal Bellingshausen and Mirny 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. The multiyear averages were obtained at the AARI Department of Ice Regime and Forecasting over the period 1971-1995. Section 5 presents an overview of total ozone on the basis of measurements at the Russian stations. Data of geophysical observations published in Section 6 present the results of measurements under the geomagnetic and ionospheric programs. The geophysical information also includes the magnetic activity index (PC-index) the calculation of which is made from data of geomagnetic observations at Vostok station. The last Section (7) is traditionally devoted to the main directions of the logistics activity of RAE during the period under consideration.

2 RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN OPERATION IN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2005 MIRNY OBSERVATORY STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89592 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 39.9 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES ϕ = 66 33 S; λ = 93 01 E GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES Φ = -76.8 ; = 151.1 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY December 7 January 5 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT No NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89512 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 119 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES ϕ = 70 46 S; λ = 11 50 E 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 89050 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 15.4 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES ϕ = 62 12 S; λ = 58 56 W BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY No BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT No PROGRESS STATION STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89574 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 14.6 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES ϕ = 69 23 S; λ = 76 23 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 89606 METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 3488 m GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES ϕ = 78 27 S; λ = 106 52 E GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES Φ = -89.3 ; = 139.5 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY October 21 - February 21 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT April 23 - August 21

3 1. DATA OF AEROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS OCTOBER 2005 MIRNY OBSERVATORY 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 )/σ f Mirny, October 2005 Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa 981,2 1002,7 948,1-0,6-0,1 Air temperature, C -12,9-2,3-28,4 0,5 0,2 Relative humidity, % 76 7,0 1,2 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 4,9-1,9-1,9 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 2,0-0,5-0,4 Precipitation, mm 29,2-14,3-0,4 0,7 Wind speed, m/s 11,3 26,0 0,7 0,4 Prevailing wind direction, deg 112 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 532,8 22,8 0,7 1,0 Total ozone content (TO), DU 285 357 138

4 Isobaric surface, P hpa Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Isobaric surface height, H m Temperature, T C Dew point deficit, D C Resultant wind direction, deg Resultant wind speed, m/s Wind stability parameter,% Mirny, October 2005 Number of days without temperature data Table 1.2 Number of days without wind data 975 53-15,2 3,0 925 454-13,6 6,3 89 10 93 1 1 850 1093-16,4 6,7 90 7 69 1 1 700 2539-21,3 8,8 124 1 15 1 1 500 4951-35,4 7,7 252 4 39 1 1 400 6475-44,8 6,9 253 8 48 1 1 300 8347-56,2 6,1 259 11 58 1 1 200 10880-61,2 6,3 271 17 86 1 1 150 12665-61,2 6,7 274 22 90 1 1 100 15160-60,5 7,1 282 31 91 2 2 70 17401-55,3 7,6 286 40 92 4 5 50 19557-49,1 8,6 285 49 94 8 8 30 23057-38,4 11,0 290 58 95 11 9 20 25999-30,1 14,4 292 55 94 17 9 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface height and temperature Mirny, October 2005 Table 1.3 P hpa Н-Н avg, m (Н-H avg )/σ Н Т-Т avg, С (Т-Т avg )/σ Т 850-1 0,0 0,8 0,5 700 2 0,1 1,1 0,9 500 7 0,2 1,1 0,8 400 19 0,4 1,8 1,2 300 35 0,6 2,0 1,2 200 64 0,9 3,3 1,5 150 88 1,1 2,6 0,8 100 82 0,7 0,2 0,0 70 85 0,5 1,0 0,2 50 77 0,4 2,7 0,4 30 213 0,7 6,4 1,0 20 350 0,9 8,8 1,4

5 NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION Table 1.4 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, October 2005 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/σ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa 984,2 1005,0 962,9 0,1 0,0 Air temperature, C -12,7-3,0-27,8-0,1-0,1 Relative humidity, % 45-6,6-0,9 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 6,2 0,6 0,6 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 1,0 0,4 0,6 Precipitation, mm 5,4-23,6-0,7 0,2 Wind speed, m/s 7,3 22,0-2,7-1,9 Prevailing wind direction, deg 135 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 480,3 23,3 0,6 1,1 Total ozone content (TO), DU 151 292 113

6 Isobaric surface, P hpa Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Isobaric surface height, H m Temperature, T C Dew point deficit, D C Resultant wind direction, deg Resultant wind speed, m/s Table 1.5 Novolazarevskaya, October 2005 Number of Wind days stability without parameter,% temperature data Number of days without wind data 969 122-13,5 9,5 925 474-13,8 8,7 113 11 91 0 1 850 1110-18,2 8,1 105 11 92 0 0 700 2531-26,2 6,4 126 8 73 0 0 500 4899-39,5 5,5 177 6 48 0 0 400 6388-49,7 5,0 197 8 51 0 0 300 8216-61,3 4,5 209 9 55 0 0 200 10663-70,7 4,4 220 11 73 0 0 150 12349-74,0 4,3 233 11 77 0 0 100 14690-77,3 4,3 250 11 82 0 0 70 16724-77,6 4,3 262 13 86 0 0 50 18658-75,0 4,5 275 16 89 0 0 30 21697-63,4 6,0 285 21 92 1 1 20 24316-42,3 8,8 291 23 90 5 5 10 29108-31,0 14,5 307 30 91 10 9 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Table 1.6 Novolazarevskaya, October 2005 P hpa Н-Н avg, m (Н-H avg )/σ Н Т-Т avg, С (Т-Т avg )/σ Т 850-4 -0,1 0,3 0,2 700-9 -0,2-0,6-0,4 500-22 -0,4-0,8-0,4 400-33 -0,5-1,1-0,7 300-47 -0,7-1,0-0,8 200-64 -0,9-1,5-0,8 150-97 -1,2-3,4-1,5 100-158 -1,7-6,7-2,0 70-250 -2,2-8,6-2,3 50-352 -2,5-8,7-1,9 30-479 -2,2-4,2-0,7 20-465 -1,6 8,8 1,2 10-340 -0,8 7,1 0,8

7 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 2005 Normalized Relative anomaly anomaly f/f (f-f avg )/σ avg f Sea level air pressure, hpa 993,7 1014,9 953,7 3,9 0,8 Air temperature, C -1,8 1,1-11,1 0,8 0,8 Relative humidity, % 91 2,8 0,9 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 8,4-0,6-1,5 Lower cloudiness (sky coverage),tenths 7,7-0,3-0,5 Precipitation, mm 31,8-17,8-1,1 0,6 Wind speed, m/s 8,2 19,0 0,2 0,2 Prevailing wind direction, deg 360 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 384,3-19,8-0,5 1,0 PROGRESS STATION Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) Table 1.8 Progress, October 2005 Parameter f f max f min Sea level air pressure, hpa 982,6 1005,4 953,7 Air temperature, 0 C -10,3-0,4-21,9 Relative humidity, % 53 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 7,0 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 3,6 Precipitation, mm 7,8 Wind speed, m/s 4,9 12,0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 67 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 456,5

8 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 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/σ f Vostok, October 2005 Relative anomaly f/f avg Station surface level air pressure, hpa 618,8 635,8 595,3-0,6-0,1 Air temperature, C -54,8-39,5-75,7 2,2 1,4 Relative humidity, % 77 6,5 1,5 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5,1 0,7 0,6 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 0,0 0,0 0,0 Precipitation, mm 0,9-1,0-0,5 0,5 Wind speed, m/s 5,9 12,0 0,4 0,4 Prevailing wind direction, deg 225 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 443,3-15,8-0,7 1,0 Total ozone content (TO), DU * * the data need to be further analysed

9 O c t o b e r 2005 Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hpa Atmospheric 981,2 Atmospheric pressure 984,2 pressure at Vostok 993,7 at sea station level, 982,6 is hpa the ground 1000 981,2 984,2 level pressure 1100,0 993,7 982,6 1000,0 900,0 800 981,2 984,2 993,7 982,6 700,0 618,8 500,0 700 900 600 Mirny Mirny Novolaz Novolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f -0,1 0,0 0,8-0,1 0,0-20,0 10,0-20,0-40,0 0-50,0-40 -80,0-60,0 Air temperature, C C C -12,9-12,7-1,8-10,3-12,9-12,9-12,7-12,7-1,8-1,8-10,3-10,3-54,8 Mirny Mirny Novolaz Novolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f 0,2-0,1 0,8 1,4 100 100 100 50 50 50 0 Relative humidity, 91 % 76 77 76 91 76 45 91 53 45 53 77 45 53 Mirny Mirny Novolaz Novolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f 1,2-0,9 0,9 1,5 10,0 10,0 5,0 5,0 0,0 Total cloudiness, 8,4 tenths 6,2 7,0 4,9 8,4 4,9 6,2 8,4 5,1 4,9 6,2 7,0 7,05,1 Mirny Mirny Novolaz Novolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f -1,9 0,6-1,5 0,6 40,0 40,0 40 20,0 20,0 0,00 0,0 Precipitation, mm 29,2 31,8 29,2 29,2 31,8 31,8 5,4 7,8 5,4 5,4 7,8 7,8 0,9 Mirny Novolaz NovolazBellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok f/f avg 0,7 0,2 0,6 0,5 Mean wind speed, m/s 20,0 10,0 0,0 11,3 11,3 7,3 7,3 8,2 8,2 4,9 4,9 5,9 Mirny Mirny Novolaz Novolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f 0,4-1,9 0,2 0,4 Fig.1.1. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations. October 2005.

10 NOVEMBER 2005 MIRNY OBSERVATORY Table 1.10 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 )/σ f Mirny, November 2005 Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa 983,2 997,0 957,8-3,1-0,8 Air temperature, 0 C -7,0 2,6-20,0 0,3 0,2 Relative humidity, % 75 7,2 2,0 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5,6-0,8-1,1 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 1,2-1,4-1,2 Precipitation, mm 30,4-3,0-0,1 0,9 Wind speed, m/s 10,9 33,0 1,1 0,9 Prevailing wind direction, deg 112 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 790,6 17,6 0,3 1,0 Total ozone content (TO), DU 260 345 190

11 Isobaric surface, P hpa Table 1.11 Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Mirny, November 2005 Isobaric surface height, H m Temperature, T 0 C Dew point deficit, D 0 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 979 53-7,6 4,0 925 491-9,3 6,7 88 13 98 1 1 850 1139-13,5 5,5 90 11 95 1 1 700 2594-20,9 6,8 86 6 76 1 2 500 5009-35,3 7,2 73 3 38 1 1 400 6529-45,7 6,7 101 2 24 1 1 300 8392-57,5 6,0 131 0 4 1 1 200 10916-60,8 6,1 297 6 53 1 2 150 12705-60,6 6,6 298 10 73 1 1 100 15248-56,1 7,8 302 17 84 3 3 70 17565-45,6 9,6 310 23 85 4 4 50 19841-37,2 13,3 316 23 82 7 7 30 23428-31,3 19,2 326 17 73 9 9 20 26318-29,5 22,4 333 14 71 12 9 Table 1.12 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Mirny, November 2005 P hpa Н-Н avg, m (Н-H avg )/σ Н Т-Т avg, С (Т-Т avg )/σ Т 850-9 -0,3-1,0-1,0 700-19 -0,5-1,9-1,5 500-44 -0,9-2,6-1,8 400-61 -1,1-2,8-2,0 300-89 -1,4-3,3-2,4 200-144 -1,7-5,3-1,7 150-198 -1,9-7,7-2,0 100-302 -2,1-8,4-1,9 70-366 -2,0-2,5-0,7 50-373 -1,8 2,4 0,9 30-314 -1,5 3,9 1,4 20-263 -1,2 3,0 0,9

12 NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION Table 1.13 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, November 2005 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/σ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa 986,8 1000,4 968,6 1,0 0,3 Air temperature, 0 C -9,2-0,7-20,2-3,3-2,5 Relative humidity, % 48-5,3-1,2 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 4,8-1,5-1,4 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 0,8-0,2-0,3 Precipitation, mm 3,4-4,6-0,4 0,4 Wind speed, m/s 6,9 21,0-2,5-1,3 Prevailing wind direction, deg 135 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 801,6 72,6 1,5 1,1 Total ozone content (TO), DU 218 283 163

13 Isobaric surface, P hpa Table 1.14 Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Novolazarevskaya, November 2005 Isobaric surface height, H m Temperature, T 0 C Dew point deficit, D 0 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 972 122-10,0 8,9 925 498-12,0 7,5 105 9 94 0 0 850 1138-16,5 7,4 101 9 92 0 0 700 2569-24,8 6,6 102 6 69 0 0 500 4957-36,8 6,6 217 3 38 0 0 400 6465-46,7 6,2 231 6 55 0 0 300 8319-58,2 5,5 237 8 61 0 0 200 10822-63,7 5,5 242 9 71 0 0 150 12580-64,6 5,7 245 10 77 0 0 100 15048-64,5 6,1 244 10 73 0 0 70 17243-59,1 6,9 237 11 64 0 0 50 19396-48,9 8,4 223 9 46 0 0 30 22872-33,7 12,3 206 6 25 1 1 20 25768-26,7 14,9 170 3 12 2 2 10 30893-22,0 17 121 6 25 6 6 Table 1.15 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Novolazarevskaya, November 2005 P hpa Н-Н avg, m (Н-H avg )/σ Н Т-Т avg, С (Т-Т avg )/σ Т 850-13 -0,4-3,5-3,1 700-38 -1,2-3,1-3,0 500-66 -1,6-1,9-1,5 400-83 -1,7-1,7-1,5 300-99 -1,8-1,4-1,2 200-121 -1,9-2,1-0,7 150-151 -1,8-4,6-1,1 100-239 -1,8-8,7-1,6 70-341 -1,8-8,0-1,4 50-398 -1,7-2,3-0,5 30-375 -1,3 5,7 1,5 20-260 -0,8 7,4 1,8 10-82 -0,2 4,6 0,9

14 BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION Table 1.16 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, November 2005 Normalized Relative anomaly anomaly f/f (f-f avg )/σ avg f Sea level air pressure, hpa 991,4 1004,9 973,2 3,8 0,7 Air temperature, 0 C -0,8 3,5-4,9 0,4 0,5 Relative humidity, % 90 2,4 0,7 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 8,7-0,5-1,3 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 6,8-1,2-1,3 Precipitation, mm 24,3-24,1-1,2 0,5 Wind speed, m/s 7,3 19,0 0,3 0,3 Prevailing wind direction, deg 315 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 549,3 10,3 0,3 1,0 PROGRESS STATION Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) Progress, November 2005 Parameter f f max f min Sea level air pressure, hpa 985,6 998,6 965,2 Air temperature, 0 C -5,1 4,7-17,1 Relative humidity, % 54 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 6,8 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 3,5 Precipitation, mm 7,7 Wind speed, m/s 5,5 22,0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 90 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 704,2 Table 1.17

15 VOSTOK STATION Table 1.18 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, November 2005 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/σ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Station surface level air pressure, hpa 626,9 638,9 612,3 1,2 0,3 Air temperature, C -42,3-25,6-59,5 0,8 0,5 Relative humidity, % 75 3,1 0,7 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 4,1 0,8 1,0 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 0,0 0,0 0,0 Precipitation, mm 0,0-0,9-1,3 0,0 Wind speed, m/s 5,6 10,0 0,4 0,4 Prevailing wind direction, deg 202 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 915,6-18,4-0,5 1,0 Total ozone content (TO), DU 291 350 226

16 N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 5 Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hpa Atmospheric Atmospheric pressure pressure at Vostok at sea station level, is hpa the ground 983,2 level 986,8pressure991,4 985,6 1000,0 900,0 800,0 983,2 986,8 991,4 985,6 700,0 600,0 626,9 500,0 700 900 Mirny Mirny Novolaz NovolazBellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f -0,8 0,3 0,7 0,3 Air temperature, C 0,0-5,0-20 0-40 -10,0-60 -0,8-7,0-9,2-0,8-5,1-5,1-7,0-42,3-9,2 Mirny Novolaz NovolazBellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f 0,2-2,5 0,5 0,5 100 50 50 0 0 75 75 7548 Mirn y Relative humidity, % 90 54 75 90 48 48 Belli ngs Vost ok 90 75 54 Mirny Novolaz NovolazBellingsBellings Progress Progress Vostok 54 (f-f avg )/σ f 2,0-1,2 0,7 0,7 10,0 10 5,0 5 0,00 Total cloudiness, tenths 5,6 5,6 8,7 8,7 6,8 4,8 4,8 6,8 4,1 Mirny Novolaz Novolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f -1,1-1,4-1,3 1,0 40,0 20,0 0,00 Precipitation, mm 30,4 30,4 24,3 24,3 3,4 3,4 7,7 7,7 0,0 Mirny Novolaz NovolazBellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok f/f avg 0,9 0,4 0,5 0,0 Mean wind speed, m/s 20,0 20 10,0 0,00 10,9 10,9 6,9 6,9 7,3 7,3 5,5 5,5 5,6 Mirny Novolaz Novolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f 0,9-1,3 0,3 0,4 Fig. 1.2. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations. November 2005.

17 DECEMBER 2005 MIRNY OBSERVATORY 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 )/σ f Mirny, December 2005 Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa 996,3 1010,4 979,3 6,6 1,6 Air temperature, 0 C -0,1 5,0-6,6 2,4 2,7 Relative humidity, % 77 6,3 1,5 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 7,6 0,7 0,7 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 1,8-1,2-1,1 Precipitation, mm 7,9-17,3-0,8 0,3 Wind speed, m/s 9,0 19,0 0,5 0,4 Prevailing wind direction, deg 112 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 937,6-5,4-0,1 1,0 Total ozone content (TO), DU 274 304 244

18 Table 1.20 Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Mirny, December 2005 Isobaric surface, P hpa Isobaric surface height, H m Temperature, T 0 C Dew point deficit, D 0 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 990 53-0,9 4,1 925 592-2,9 7,3 86 16 99 0 0 850 1256-7,1 6 87 14 98 0 0 700 2750-13,9 7,1 78 11 91 0 0 500 5240-27,6 5,8 68 6 57 0 0 400 6811-37,7 5,7 67 5 39 0 0 300 8740-49,7 5,2 52 3 20 0 0 200 11371-49,5 7,1 9 3 25 2 2 150 13265-48,2 8,8 312 1 11 3 3 100 15943-46,8 10,8 241 2 22 4 5 70 18301-44,9 11,2 251 1 18 8 8 50 20577-42,3 12,3 67 0 4 10 9 30 24062-38,0 14,0 91 4 44 12 9 20 26887-35,4 15,5 91 7 71 13 9 10 31812-27,5 17,8 81 9 74 17 9 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Table 1.21 Mirny, December 2005 P hpa Н-Н avg, m (Н-H avg )/σ Н Т-Т avg, С (Т-Т avg )/σ Т 850 62 1,9 1,8 2,4 700 73 2,1 2,5 2,3 500 96 2,1 2,4 1,8 400 109 2,1 2,3 1,9 300 125 2,2 1,7 1,3 200 113 1,8-2,0-0,9 150 97 1,4-3,0-1,4 100 53 0,6-4,2-2,3 70-18 -0,2-4,2-2,9 50-28 -0,3-3,1-2,4 30-64 -0,6-1,6-1,0 20-64 -0,7-1,8-0,8 10-45 -0,4 0,6 0,3

19 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 2005 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/σ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa 999,0 1009,1 983,4 8,7 1,8 Air temperature, 0 C -1,6 5,2-7,1-0,7-0,9 Relative humidity, % 65 7,2 1,7 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 8,1 1,8 2,6 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 4,3 2,8 3,5 Precipitation, mm 3,7-3,9-0,3 0,5 Wind speed, m/s 4,9 14,0-2,5-1,5 Prevailing wind direction, deg 112 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 858,9-49,2-0,7 0,9 Total ozone content (TO), DU 283 339 242

20 Table 1.23 Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages) Novolazarevskaya, December 2005 Isobaric surface, P hpa Isobaric surface height, H m Temperature, T 0 C Dew point deficit, D 0 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 984 122-2,7 4,8 925 610-5,2 3,9 96 7 89 0 0 850 1267-9,5 3,4 94 9 97 0 0 700 2737-18,4 4,3 84 10 96 0 0 500 5175-32,2 3,6 68 5 62 0 0 400 6714-42,2 3,8 51 4 45 0 0 300 8603-53,8 3,7 19 4 38 0 1 200 11213-50,3 5,9 4 4 55 0 0 150 13093-48,8 7,9 1 4 62 0 0 100 15774-45,3 10,1 1 5 60 0 0 70 18167-41,4 11,9 8 6 69 0 0 50 20461-38,7 13,2 15 6 68 1 1 30 23976-36,5 14,8 44 5 62 3 3 20 26793-34,2 15,7 68 6 70 5 5 10 31696-27,6 18,2 97 8 94 15 9 Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature Table 1.24 Novolazarevskaya, December 2005 P hpa Н-Н avg, m (Н-H avg )/σ Н Т-Т avg, С (Т-Т avg )/σ Т 850 62 1,4-0,7-0,8 700 56 1,2-0,1-0,1 500 44 0,8-0,7-0,4 400 36 0,6-0,6-0,4 300 23 0,3-1,2-1,0 200 12 0,2-0,7-0,2 150-3 0,0-2,1-0,7 100-23 -0,2-2,4-1,0 70-43 -0,3-0,9-0,4 50-62 -0,4-0,6-0,4 30-93 -0,7-1,2-0,6 20-99 -0,6-1,5-0,7 10-125 -1,0 0,5 0,2

21 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 2005 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/σ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Sea level air pressure, hpa 995,4 1009,9 966,6 4,0 0,8 Air temperature, 0 C 0,0 6,8-11,2-0,4-0,8 Relative humidity, % 80-7,5-1,8 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 8,8-0,3-0,7 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 7,3-0,6-0,9 Precipitation, mm 23,3-25,8-1,6 0,5 Wind speed, m/s 6,4 15,0-0,2-0,2 Prevailing wind direction, deg 158 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 609,0 29,0 0,7 1,1 PROGRESS STATION Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) Progress, December 2005 Parameter f f max f min Sea level air pressure, hpa 998,1 1010,8 989,3 Air temperature, 0 C 2,5 8,9-3,5 Relative humidity, % 53 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 6,3 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 2,4 Precipitation, mm 11,7 Wind speed, m/s 4,2 14,0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 90 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 923,7 Table 1.26

22 VOSTOK STATION Table 1.27 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, December 2005 Normalized anomaly (f-f avg )/σ f Relative anomaly f/f avg Ground level air pressure, hpa 641,4 652,5 626,5 7,6 1,8 Air temperature, C -29,2-18,9-40,5 2,7 1,7 Relative humidity, % 77 4,6 1,0 Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 3,9 0,7 0,7 Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 0,1-0,1-0,5 Precipitation, mm 0,6 0,0 0,0 1,0 Wind speed, m/s 1,8 13,0-2,7-3,0 Prevailing wind direction, deg 202 Total radiation, MJ/m 2 1199,5-32,6-0,8 1,0 Total ozone content (TO), DU 287 350 231

23 D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 5 Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hpa Atmospheric Atmospheric pressure pressure at Vostok at sea station level, is hpa the ground 996,3 983,2 999,0 level 986,8pressure995,4 991,4 998,1 985,6 1000,0 1000,0 900,0 900,0 800,0 800,0 996,3 999,0 995,4 998,1 700,0 700,0 600,0 600,0 1000 641,4 500,0 500,0 800 600 Mirny Mirny Novolaz Novolaz Novolaz Bellings Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f 1,6 1,8 0,8 1,8 Air temperature, C 10,0-10,0 20 0,0-20,0-30,0-20 0-10,0-40,0-50,0-60,0-0,1-0,1 0,0 0,0 2,5 2,5 Mirny -7 Novolaz -0,8-9,2 Bellings Progress -5,1-1,6-1,6-29,2 Mirny Novolaz NovolazBellingsBellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f 1,7 1,9-0,2 1,4 100 100 50 50 0 0 Relative humidity, % 775 65 80 90 65 80 48 53 53 77 54 Mirny Novolaz NovolazBellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f 1,5 1,7-1,8 1,0 10,0 10,0 5,0 5,0 0,00 0,0 Total cloudiness, tenths 8,7 7,6 5,6 7,6 8,1 8,1 8,8 8,8 6,8 4,8 6,3 6,3 3,9 Mirny Mirny Novolaz Novolaz Bellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f 0,7 2,6-0,7 0,7 40,0 20,0 0,00 Precipitation, mm 30,4 23,3 24,3 23,3 7,9 7,9 3,4 3,7 7,7 11,7 3,7 11,7 0,6 Mirny Novolaz NovolazBellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok f/f avg 0,3 0,5 0,5 1,0 10,0 20,0 15 10,0 5,0 5 0,0 0 Mean wind speed, m/s 9,0 9,0 10,9 4,9 6,4 4,9 6,9 6,4 7,3 4,2 4,2 5,5 1,8 Mirny Novolaz NovolazBellings Bellings Progress Progress Vostok (f-f avg )/σ f 0,4-1,5-0,2-3,0 Fig.1.3. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations. December 2005.

24 2. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2005 AND IN GENERAL OVER THE YEAR Fig. 2.1 characterizes the temperature conditions in October-December 2005 at the Antarctic continent. It presents monthly averages of surface air temperature and their anomalies and normalized anomalies at the Russian and non-russian meteorological stations. The actual data 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 over the period 1961-1990 were adopted from /4/. In October-November, as compared to September, the number of stations with the above zero anomalies of mean monthly air temperature has decreased (Fig. 2.1). A small cold center that was in September at the eastern coast of the Weddell Sea spread in October over the entire territory of the Queen Maud Land and in November over the Polar Plateau area. The cold center was located in October in the Syowa station area (-0.6 о С, -0.5 σ) and in November - in the vicinity of Syowa (-3.0 о С, -3.1 σ) and Novolazarevskaya (-3.3 о С, -2.7 σ) stations. November 2005 was the coldest over the entire observation period from 1957 at Syowa station and from 1961 at Novolazarevskaya station. Main heat centers in October were located in the vicinity of the Polar Plateau, Victoria Land and the Antarctic Peninsula. Here, the heat anomalies at McMurdo, Amundsen-Scott and Rothera stations amounted to 2.7 о С (1.0 σ), 2.5 о С (1.0 σ) and 2.5 о С (1.1 σ), respectively. In November, the heat center decreased in area, the largest positive temperature anomalies being observed in the Ross Sea (McMurdo station, 1.3 о С, 0.8 σ) and in the vicinity of the Antarctic Peninsula (Rothera station, 1.5 о С, 1.0 σ). In December, the above zero air temperature anomalies were noted in the central part of the continent, and also at the entire coast of East Antarctica. Large above zero anomalies were recorded at Amundsen-Scott (3.7 о С, 2.1 σ), Vostok (2.6 о С, 1.7 σ), Davis (2.5 о С, 2.5 σ) and Mirny (2.4 о С, 2.6 σ) stations. December 2005 was the warmest for Mirny station and the second warmest December for Davis station for the entire observation period. In December, a cold center was formed in the Antarctic Peninsula area with the core near Rothera station. The temperature anomaly at Rothera station was -1.5 о С (-2.8 σ), and December 2005 was the second coldest December for the entire observation period at this station. The statistically significant linear trends of mean monthly air temperature for these months are detected only at Vostok station (Figs.2.2-2.4). The air temperature increase at Vostok station for November and December was 1.6 С/44 years and 1.5 о С/44 years (Table 2.1), respectively. The atmospheric pressure at the Russian stations in October-November was characterized by predominantly small (less than 1 σ) anomalies. In December, at Mirny, Novolazarevskaya and Vostok stations, large air pressure anomalies were observed: 6.6 hpa (1.7 σ), 8.8 hpa (1.8 σ) and 7.8 hpa (1.9 σ), respectively. At Novolazarevskaya and Vostok stations, such anomalies were the second largest positive anomalies for December over the entire observation period. In Mirny, the pressure anomaly in December has become the third positive anomaly since 1957. Statistically significant linear trends of mean monthly atmospheric pressure for the months under consideration were not observed at the Russian stations (Figs.2.2-2.4). One can only point to the presence of a negative trend at Bellingshausen and Mirny stations. At Novolazarevskaya station, the negative trend is detected in October and December, and at Vostok station in December. The amount of precipitation in October-December at the Russian stations was less than the multiyear average. The least precipitation was observed at Novolazarevskaya station in October and at Mirny station in December (about 20% of the multiyear average). No precipitation was observed at Vostok station in November. Considering the air temperature regime for 2005 in general, one should note the dominance of the above zero air temperature anomalies at the stations of Antarctica throughout the year. In 2005, the below zero mean annual temperature anomalies were observed in East Antarctica only in the vicinity of the Wilkes Land at Casey (-0.3 о С, -0.3 σ) and Dumont d Urville (-0.4 о С, -0.6 σ) stations, and in West Antarctica only in the vicinity of the Queen Maud Land at Halley station (-0.8 о С, -0.8 σ) (Fig. 2.1). The largest (1.5 σ and more) above zero anomalies of mean annual air temperature in 2005 were noted at the inland Amundsen-Scott (1.3 о С, 2.3 σ) and Vostok (1.1 о С, 1.5 σ) stations. They were the second and the fourth largest anomalies for the indicated stations over the entire observation period. The largest by area and by duration centers of the above zero anomalies were detected in January-March and August-December. In May-June, extensive centers of the below zero anomalies took place. The dynamics of location of the heat and cold centers in 2005 was as follows. In January 2005 as compared to December 2004, the above zero temperature anomalies were observed at most Antarctic stations. In January, the temperature anomalies were small (about 1 σ and less). The main heat center was located near the coast of Antarctica in the Weddell Sea area. The anomaly at its core at Orcadas station was equal to 1.0 о С (1.5 σ). In February, the main heat center was displaced to the area of the Queen Maud Land. Its core was located near Novolazarevskaya (1.1 о С, 1.2 σ) and Syowa (1.3 о С, 1.6 σ) stations. For Syowa station, the mean monthly temperature of February was -1.8 о С being the third among the warmest years beginning from 1957. The below zero temperature anomalies recorded in February at the Antarctic stations were small (-1 σ and less).

25 In March, the heat center core moved to the area of the Commonwealth Sea. Here at Mawson and Davis stations, the anomalies amounted to 2.2 С (1.5 σ) and 1.9 о С (1.2 σ), respectively. The main cold center was localized in the vicinity of the Wilkes Land and Victoria Land. At its core near Dumont d Urville station, the temperature anomaly was -2.1 о С (-1.5 σ). In April, the main cold center was in the vicinity of the Victoria Land. Here, at McMurdo station, the temperature anomaly was -3.3 С (-1.6 σ). The above zero temperature anomalies were small not more than 1 σ. Only in the central part of the mainland in the vicinity of Amundsen-Scott station, the anomaly reached 3.3 о С (1.3 σ). In May, the below zero temperature anomalies spread to the central part of the mainland and the coastal part of West Antarctica in the vicinity of the Queen Maud Land. At the core of the cold center near Halley station, the temperature anomaly was -6.2 С (-1.7 σ). May at this station was the second coldest May over the entire observation period beginning from 1957. In the Antarctic Peninsula area in May, small above zero (less than 1 σ) anomalies were preserved. In June, the heat center was located in the coastal part of East Antarctica. At its core at Mawson station, the temperature anomaly was 2.9 о С (1.2 σ). In West Antarctica and at the Antarctic Peninsula, the below zero temperature anomalies were observed. The most significant anomaly was recorded in the vicinity of Halley station, being equal to -4.2 о С (-1.3 σ). In July, there was a decrease of the number of stations with the above zero anomalies of mean monthly temperature. An extensive cold center was situated in the vicinity of the Wilkes Land, the Polar Plateau and in the southwestern area of the Antarctic Peninsula. At Casey and Amundsen-Scott stations, the anomalies of mean monthly air temperature were -4.1 С (-1.3 σ) and -3.3 С (-1.4 σ), respectively. A small heat center was located in the area of the Atlantic and the western part of the Indian Ocean coast. At Syowa station, the temperature anomaly was 3.3 о С (1.3 σ). In August, the number of stations with the below zero temperature anomalies has decreased. Small below zero anomalies (about -1 σ) were noted in the zone of the Indian Ocean coast of East Antarctica and in the Ross Sea area. The heat center was situated near the Atlantic coast, western part of the Indian Ocean coast and the Antarctic Peninsula. The largest above zero anomaly of air temperature was observed at Syowa station (3.2 о С, 1.4 σ). For this station, August 2005 was the fifth warmest August for the entire period of its operation. In September, the heat center spread to the central part of the mainland and the entire coast of East Antarctica. The largest above zero anomalies were observed at Amundsen-Scott (6.5 о С, 2.7 σ) and Bellingshausen (2.0 о С, 1.2 σ) stations. September 2005 was the warmest for Amundsen-Scott station and the fifth warmest September at Bellingshausen station over the entire period of station operation. Throughout October-December, as noted above, there was an increase in the number of stations with the above zero temperature anomalies. Fig. 2.5 presents the annual temperature and atmospheric pressure variations in 2005 at the Russian stations and the temperature and pressure multiyear averages for the period 1961-1990. One can see that small above zero temperature anomalies predominated in 2005. The cases of large anomalies (more than 1.5 σ) were few. Large positive anomalies were noted in December at Mirny (2.4 о С, 2.6 σ) and Vostok (2.6 о С, 1.7 σ) stations. December 2005 was the warmest for Mirny station and the fourth warmest December for Vostok station. A large below zero temperature anomaly was noted in November at Novolazarevskaya station (-3.3 о С, -2.7 σ). Such cold anomaly in November occurred for the first time over the observation period from 1961. A large above zero temperature anomaly was observed at the foreign stations in 2005 only in September at Amundsen-Scott station (6.5 о С, 2.7 σ). This September was the warmest over the entire operation period of the station. The atmospheric pressure at Mirny, Novolazarevskaya and Vostok stations in 2005 is characterized by the dominance of negative and at Bellingshausen station positive anomalies. Cases of large negative anomalies were observed in the first months of 2005. At Bellingshausen station, they occurred in January (-5.7 hpa, -2.3 σ) and April (-6.2 hpa, -1.5 σ), at Mirny station in February (-6.2 hpa, -1.9 σ) and April (-7.2 hpa, -2.3 σ) and at Novolazarevskaya station in February (-10.4 hpa, -2.3 σ). Large positive pressure anomalies took place in the second half of the year: in August at Bellingshausen station (9.0 hpa, 2.6 σ) and in December at Mirny (6.6 hpa, 1.7 σ), Novolazarevskaya (8.8 hpa, 1.8 σ) and Vostok (7.8 hpa, 1.9 σ) stations. The interannual variations of mean annual air temperature for the period 1957-2005 for most stations of Antarctica are characterized by the temperature increase. The statistically significant trends were detected at Bellingshausen and Novolazarevskaya stations (Fig. 2.6, Table 2.1). At Bellingshausen station (the Antarctic Peninsula), the temperature increase was 1.1 о С/37 years (from 1969). At Novolazarevskaya station (the Atlantic coast of East Antarctica), the mean annual temperature increased by 1.0 о С/44 years (from 1961). At Mirny station (the Indian Ocean coast of East Antarctica) and at inland Vostok station, the trend values are statistically insignificant however the trend sign is positive. The interannual changes of mean monthly air temperature at the Russian stations manifest for some months the statistically significant trends. The highest trend values were noted predominantly for the cold months. Thus, the trend value for July at Novolazarevskaya station is equal to 2.4 о С/45 years, at Bellingshausen station for May 2.4 С/38 years and for August 3.6 о С/38 years (Table2.1).

26 Summarizing the results of monitoring the meteorological conditions at the stations of Antarctica for 2005, it should be noted that small above zero mean annual temperature anomalies took place at most stations. The largest above zero anomalies were recorded at the inland Amundsen-Scott and Vostok stations. In 2005, new extremes for the entire observation period values of mean monthly air temperature were also observed at some Antarctic stations (Amundsen-Scott September, Mirny December). Estimates of the linear trends of mean annual air temperature at the Russian stations in Antarctica indicate that warming was the main tendency of the period 1957-2005. References: 1. http://www.south.aari.nw.ru 2. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/climate/climatedata.html 3. http://www.nerc bas.ac.uk/public/icd/metlog/jones_and_limbert.html 4. Atlas of the oceans. The Southern Ocean. MD RF (in press) Linear trend parameters of mean monthly surface air temperature Table 2.1 Station Parameter I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII Year Entire observation period Novolazarevskaya, о С/10 years 0.19 0.21 0.20 0.22-0.14 0.26 0.54 0.33 0.27 0.30-0.06 0.08 0.22 1961-2005 % 27.5 30.2 24.0 16.2 8.2 15.1 25.2 19.5 18.2 23.6 6.7 10.9 45.1 Р 90 95 - - - - 90 - - - - - 99 Mirny, о С/10 years -0.12 0.05 0.02-0.10-0.13 0.27 0.13 0.18 0.46 0.06 0.02 0.02 0.07 1957-2005 % 13.8 5.8 1.6 6.9 7.6 17.4 6.5 9.0 26.1 5.1 2.4 3.0 13.2 Р - - - - - - - - 90 - - - - Vostok, о С/10 years 0.20-0.03-0.05-0.00-0.14 0.07 0.16 0.18-0.18-0.12 0.36 0.35 0.07 1958-2005 % 18.3 2.4 3.0 0.1 7.3 3.6 6.1 7.0 7.5 9.6 33.4 29.9 11.0 Р - - - - - - - - - - 95 95 - Bellingshausen, о С/10 years 0.26 0.25 0.18 0.33 0.64 0.42 0.31 0.94 0.04-0.06 0.02-0.01 0.30 1968-2005 % 46.0 42.3 24.0 26.1 33.9 21.1 11.4 42.8 2.5 5.4 3.6 1.6 40.1 Р 99 99 - - 95 - - 99 - - - - 99 1996 2005 Novolazarevskaya о С/10 years 1.41 0.41 1.36 0.24 0.30-0.70-3.30-0.46-3.45 1.21-1.99 1.46-0.23 % 62.2 14.1 29.6 3.1 03.4 12.8 35.3 7.8 51.4 20.1 48.5 36.1 10.1 Р 95 - - - - - - - - - - - - Mirny о С/10 years 2.8 1.38 1.48 1.72 3.38-1.57-3.11-2.27 0.37 2.25-0.42 1.92 0.69 % 45.1 34.0 34.3 26.3 44.3 28.4 34.3 35.6 5.4 44.6 12.8 42.6 24.4 Р - - - - - - - - - - - - - Vostok о С/10 years 3.60-0.11 3.92 4.04 3.56 0.07 6.15 4.04 5.09 5.61-1.67 2.63 3.16 % 61.7 3.6 65.6 37.7 29.1 0.8 54.9 38.7 58.5 69.7 33.6 35.2 82.0 Р - - 90 - - - - - - 95 - - 95 Bellingshausen о С/10 years -1.12-0.59-1.88-0.86-1.8-3.56-1.07 2.44 3.21-0.53-0.04-1.02-0.59 % 64.0 30.0 75.2 21.0 39.4 43.6 22.0 50.8 45.2 12.7 01.7 47.2 39.8 Р 95-99 - - - - - - - - - - First line: linear trend coefficient; Second line: dispersion value explained by the linear trend; Third line: Р=1-α, where α level of significance (presented if P exceeds 90 %).

27 Fig.2.1. Mean monthly surface air temperatures (1), their anomalies (2) and normalized anomalies (3) in October (X), November (XI) and December (XII) 2005 from data of stationary meteorological stations in the Southern polar area.

28 Fig. 2.2. Interannual variations of temperature and atmospheric pressure anomalies at the Russian Antarctic stations. October.

29 Fig. 2.3. Interannual variations of temperature and atmospheric pressure anomalies at the Russian Antarctic stations. November.

30 Fig. 2.4. Interannual variations of temperature and atmospheric pressure anomalies at the Russian Antarctic stations. December.

31 Fig. 2.5. Annual variations of mean monthly air temperature and mean monthly atmospheric pressure in 2005. 1 mean annual air temperature (mean annual pressure) for the period 1961-1990, 2 mean monthly air temperature (mean monthly pressure) for the period 1961-1990, 3 mean monthly air temperature (mean monthly pressure) values in 2005.

32 Fig. 2.6. Interannual variations of temperature and atmospheric pressure anomalies at the Russian Antarctic stations. Year.

33 3. REVIEW OF THE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES ABOVE THE ANTARCTIC IN OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2005 AND IN GENERAL OVER THE YEAR With the beginning of spring 2005 the weather character over the Antarctic was determined similar to the winter months by the dominating meridional processes. In October, this was expressed in the formation of blocking ridges over the South Atlantic. The South American cyclones quite frequently moved to the Weddell Sea and then passing over the Ronne Ice Shelf moved to the Antarctic Dome. Powerful high pressure ridges also developed from the side of East Australia and New Zealand and were directed to the central regions of Antarctica determining the processes of warm and moist air inflow to the Dome. As a result, the air temperatures higher than a multiyear average were noted at Vostok and Amundsen-Scott stations similar to most stations of the coastal zone of East Antarctica. There were abundant snowfalls in some regions. Table 3.1 Frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms of the Southern Hemisphere and their anomalies in October-December 2005 Month Frequency of occurrence (days) Anomalies (days) Z M a M b Z M a M b October 4 13 14-9 2 7 November 12 15 3 0 4-4 December 13 7 11 0-4 4 In November, the character of the atmospheric circulation has significantly changed. The meridional processes of М а form were developed and the frequency of occurrence of zonal processes increased (Table 3.1). Blocking ridges were formed in the Atlantic and Australian sectors, and active cyclones with developed multilayer cloud systems penetrated far to high latitudes. A similar situation was observed on 9-13 November during the flight of IL-76 to Vostok station for fuel delivery. The anomalies of mean monthly temperature at the Antarctic Peninsula and at most stations of East Antarctica were above zero and only in the vicinity of the Queen Maud Land significantly below zero (at Novolazarevskaya station, the anomaly was -3.3ºС). This fact had a favorable influence on the state of the air strip and contributed to successful fulfillment of the aforementioned transport operation. In December, similar to November, zonal processes were developed within a multiyear average. As to meridional processes, the circulation form M b had an anomalous development. In the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean sectors of the Antarctic, the cyclones almost did not reach the coast. The Antarctic High was well developed and from the Weddell Sea to the Davis Sea a belt of positive pressure anomalies was formed (up to 4-8 hpa). However, active cyclones penetrated to high latitudes along the western periphery of the New Zealand blocking ridge. These cyclones exported warm and moist air to the near-pole area determining the unusual snowfalls for high latitudes, significant middle-level cloudiness and the above zero air temperature anomalies. The snow cover at the Dome was a cause of the decreased motion speed of the sledge-caterpillar traverse, which arrived to Vostok station only on the first days of January 2006. The mean monthly temperature at the coast of the Commonwealth, Davis and Mawson seas and at Vostok station was by 1-3º С higher than the multiyear average. At Novolazarevskaya station due to the prevailing gloomy weather in December, low temperatures in November and presence of freshly fallen snow, one observed a delay and low intensity of the processes of snow and ice melting at the weak negative temperature anomaly on average for the month. The spring modification in the stratosphere in this year began in the second 10 day period of November, when the western flows became weaker and the easterly flows appeared. In December, weak easterly and northerly flows were established at all levels of the stratosphere. In 2005, the main peculiarity of atmospheric circulation in the belt of temperate and also subtropical and subantarctic latitudes was a significant dominance of the meridional processes compared with the multiyear average. The decreased frequency of occurrence of the processes of Z form was accompanied with the enhanced inter-latitudinal air exchange at the increased frequency of occurrence of the processes of M b forms in ten months of the year. Information on the frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms in presented in Table 3.2. As can be seen from the table, the indicated peculiarity was especially pronounced during the second half of the Antarctic summer and in autumn (January to April 2005). In general for 2005, the frequency of occurrence of zonal processes was by 24 days smaller than a multiyear average. The frequency of occurrence of the processes of М а form was also smaller than the multiyear average (by 11 days). The positive anomaly of the development of the processes of M b form was 35 days. Comparing these data with the characteristics of preceding years, it should be noted that the tendency of the increased frequency of occurrence of the processes of M b form is observed beginning from 2001. In 2002, this anomaly was even more significant, namely, equal to 38 days (Fig. 3.1). The decreased activity of zonal processes was manifested in 2002 and 2003. If one takes into account the frequency of occurrence of the processes of М а form, it can be concluded that the year 2005 is most close by the circulation conditions to 2002.

34 Table 3.2 Frequency of occurrence of the forms of atmospheric circulation (А) and its anomaly (В) in 2005 Month Z M a M b А В А В А В January 11-3 18 +7 2-4 February 9-5 7-1 12 +6 March 10-5 8-2 13 +7 April 11-1 10 0 9 +1 May 10 +1 12-2 9 +1 June 11 +4 6-9 13 +5 July 5-5 14 2 12 +3 August 9-3 10-1 12 +4 September 14 +2 4-7 12 +5 October 4-9 13 2 14 +7 November 12 0 15 +4 3-4 December 13 0 7-4 11 +4 Year 119-24 124-11 122 +35 60 40 20 0-20 -40-60 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Z 10 8 17 36-11 10-38 -20 5 Ma -30-8 -42-18 14-34 0 5-11 Mb 20 0 25-18 -3 24 38 15 7 Fig. 3.1. Anomalies (in days) of the frequency of occurrence of the circulation forms Z, M a, M b from 1996 to 2004. The increased frequency of occurrence compared to the multiyear average of the processes of M b form was expressed in the specific manner in some preceding years beginning from 1996, including 2001. The year 1999 was an exception during this period when the processes of Z form had a significant dominance. Thus, in the last years including 2001, the development of the macro-process Z+M b was observed over the Southern Hemisphere. As can be seen from the plot in Fig. 3.1, the negative anomalies of the frequency of occurrence of M b form were observed only in 1999 and 2000. Whether this process is the beginning of a new stage of development of the atmospheric circulation in the Southern Hemisphere will be shown by further observations. A few words about the comparison of the total atmosphere circulation fluctuations in both Earth s hemispheres. The main atmospheric circulation forms W, C, E [2] and their analogues for the Southern Hemisphere Z, M a and M b forms established by Professor G.Ya. Vangengeim allow making such a comparison. In the last years in the Northern Hemisphere after several decades of dominance of the meridional Е and С forms, the increase of the frequency of occurrence of the processes of the western W form began, which occurs nonuniformly, with separate rises and some drops. Thus, in 2001 the level of development of these processes was higher than the multiyear average by 23 days, in 2002 by 16 days, in 2003 the frequency of occurrence of all three forms was