228
A. I. Danilov, V. E. Lagun, A. V. Klepikov
soils is the creation of geocryological polygons National network. The estima‑
tions of climate parameters trends for South Polar area for instrumental observa‑
tion period with account of data obtained during IPY activity are executed. The
results of calculations demonstrated that, in spite of remarkable Western Antarc‑
tic warming manifestations, the meteorological regime of Antarctic is character‑
ized by atmospheric processes natural variability in whole.
The analysis of the field measurements of the
radiation balance components
influenced by atmospheric aerosol and the data of the aerosol attenuation of the
solar radiation obtained during IPY at the Antarctic stations and
on the board of
research vessels near the Antarctic shore is presented in [83]. Newly obtained
results are compared with the previous long-term measurement results [83].
Surface carbon dioxide and methane concentration measurements were exe‑
cuted at the Russian Antarctic Novolazarevskaya station during IPY2007/08
period [84]. Greenhouse gases concentrations positive trend was estimated and
compared with the data from Japan Syowa station in [84].
The results of total ozone content measurements obtained at Antarctic sta‑
tions and on board of research vessel “Akademik Fedorov” during IPY2007/08
are presented and analyzed in [85]. The quasi-biennual oscillations influence on
level and date of total ozone content extreme in the Southern Polar area is ana‑
lyzed in [86] with reference to quasi-biennual oscillations stages determined by
vertical profiles of zonal winds in the equatorial stratosphere taking into account
the seasonal regularity of the upper-air jet stream dynamics.
Most progress in the Antarctic meteorological regime parameters study
reached when studying the conditions of snow accumulation in the Central Ant‑
arctica subglacial lake Vostok area. Brief history of the Soviet/Russian success‑
ful deep drilling project in Vostok station is described in [87, 88]. The results of
field, laboratory and modeling studies of snow cover in Central Antarctica are
shown in [89–98].
According to numerical model experiment results and statistical calculations
based on the snow accumulation value changes over the Antarctic ice cover [89],
sea ice extent changes, unlike the Arctic, play a secondary role for Southern
Hemisphere climate formation after large-scale atmosphere circulation dynam‑
ics. Statistical analysis confirmed a not leading impact of changes in the ice
cover of the ocean on the nourishment of the Antarctic ice sheet. The relationship
between the anomalies of sea ice extent and magnitude of snow accumulation is
negative and sufficiently close to the coastal strip, however, for the Central Ant‑
arctic inland areas it is positive, because of the prevalence of condensation above
the precipitation brought from the ocean [89].
During 1999–2012 the interdisciplinary observations program have been car‑
ried out in the Central Antarctica subglacial Lake Vostok and the Ridge B area
[90]. Instrumentally obtained snow accumulation data (from 21 to 37 kgm
‑2
yr
‑1
229
Polar
Meteorology
depending on ice flow lines direction) as well as data on the stable water isotope
concentration (δ
18
O) are presented in [90]. The important role the snow re-dep‑
osition effect due to air flow — local orography interaction is noted also.
The snow samples from the vicinities of Russian Vostok station chemical
analyses results are presented in [91]. High resolution (every 2–3 cm, or about
three samples per year) ion measurements allow us to compile a new detailed
record of volcanic events for the past 900 years. About 30 low latitude volcanic
eruptions were identified during XIII–XX centuries, for instance, Pinatubo
(1991), Agung (1963), Krakatau (1883), Tambora (1815), Gamkonora (1673),
Huaynaputina (1600), Kuwae (1453) [91].
Antarctic snow chemical composition data obtained along the 1276 km trac‑
tor way from coastal Progress station to Vostok station during the 53th
Russian
Antarctic Expedition are presented in [92]. The tine-space features of horizontal
and depth distribution of chemical species in snow cover revealed differences in
snow cover formation sources (marine, continental and volcanic) and admixture
concentration decreases with the distance from the coast [92].
The results on the thermal diffusive properties of the snow cover as well as
the snow temperature profile yearly variation on the Central Antarctic plateau
obtained in the frame of the Russian‑French co‑operation during 55th Russian
Antarctic Expedition are presented in [93].
Central East Antarctica snow cover micrometeorites composition obtained
during the 2010/11 summer season at Vostok station (56
th
Russian Antarctic Ex‑
pedition) using electron microscopy is proved that local snow cover is the best
spot on the Earth for micrometeorites collecting [94]. This result could be useful
in deciphering the origin and evolution of solid matter in Solar System.
The snow-and-firn thickness data in the vicinity of the Lake Vostok during
the austral summer season of 2012/2013 (58
th
Russian Antarctic Expedition)
performed using the ground-penetrating geophysical radar are analysed in [95].
The snow mega-dune area located 30 km to the East from Vostok station was
investigated during 2013/14 austral summer season (58
th
and 59
th
Russian Ant‑
arctic Expedition) in [98]. Snow accumulation rate and isotope content are con‑
sidered in [98], Accumulation rate averaged over the length of a dune wave (25
mm w. e.) corresponds with the value obtained at Vostok station, which suggests
no additional wind-driven snow sublimation in the mega-dunes comparing to the
surrounding plateau. The snow isotope content is in negative correlation with the
snow accumulation, which could be explained by post-depositional snow modi‑
fication and/or by enhanced winter precipitation redistribution by wind flow [98].
The air temperature and snow accumulation rate reconstruction in the Davis
sea sector of East Antarctica over the past 250 years based on the ice core studies
are presented in [99]. According to [99] results the climatic characteristics demon‑
strate cyclic time variability with the periods of 6, 9, 19, 32 and about 120 years.