federal state budgetary institution “arctic and antarctic

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 2017

№ 4 ( 81 )

STATE OF ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT

Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations

St. Petersburg

2018

FEDERAL SERVICE OF RUSSIA FOR HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

Federal State Budgetary Institution “Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute”


QUARTERLY BULLETIN

October – December 2017

№ 4 ( 81 )

STATE OF ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT

Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations

Edited by V.V. Lukin

St. Petersburg

2018

Editor-in-chief A.V. Voyevodin (Russian Antarctic Expedition – RАЭ)

Authors and contributors:

Section 1 A.V. Voyevodin (RAE)

Section 2 Ye.I. Aleksandrov (Department of Sea-Air Interaction)

Section 3 G.Ye. Ryabkov (Department of Ice Regime and Forecasting)

Section 4 A.I. Korotkov (Department of Ice Regime and Forecasting)

Section 5 Ye.Ye. Sibir (Department of Sea-Air Interaction)

Section 6 Yu.G. Turbin, Ul’yev V.А., L.N. Makarova (Department of Geophysics)

Section 7 S. G. Poigina, А.А. Kalinkin (FRC GS RAS)

Section 8 V.L. Martyanov (RAE)

Please, address proposals and comments to:

Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Russian Antarctic Expedition,

Bering str. 38, St. Petersburg 199397

Tel.: (812) 352-15-41; 337-31-04

Fax: (812) 337-31-86

E-Mail: [email protected]

The Bulletin is posted in the Internet at the site of the FSBI AARI of Roshydromet

http://www.aari.aq/ at RAE pages in the section “Quarterly Bulletin”

© Arctic and Antarctic

Research Institute (AARI),


(RAE), 2018

http://www.aari.aq/

T A B L E OF C O N T E N T S

PREFACE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1

1. DATA OF AEROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS ..... 3

2. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 .......................................................... 42

3. REVIEW OF THE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES OVER THE ANTARCTIC IN OCTOBER – DECEMBER

2017 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 52

4. BRIEF REVIEW OF ICE PROCESSES IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN FROM DATA OF SATELLITE,

SHIPBORNE AND COASTAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS

IN 2017 ............................................................................................................................................................... 56

5. RESULTS OF TOTAL OZONE MEASUREMENTS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN 2017 62

6. GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN OCTOBER –

DECEMBER 2017 ............................................................................................................................................... 64

7. SEISMIC OBSERVATIONS IN ANTARCTICA IN 2016 .................................................................................... 77

8. MAIN RAE EVENTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2017 ........................................................................... 82

1

PREFACE

The activity of the Russian Antarctic Expedition in the fourth quarter of 2017 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 wintering team

of the 62nd RAE and from November by the seasonal and wintering teams of the 63rd 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-110, and automatic geodetic complexes FAGS operated.

The Bulletin presents operational observation data. 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 2017, and data of upper-air sounding carried out at two stations - Mirny and Novolazarevskaya once

a day at 00.00 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 2017 at 00 h and 12 h UTC during 16–29 October. According to the

order of Roshydromet No. 174 of 20.04.2017, introduction of the methodology of formation and transfer of the results of

radio-sounding in the binary code FM-94 BUFR with the use of special software developed at the Central Aerological

Observatory was performed at Novolazarevskaya and Mirny stations in the IV quarter. Stations began operational transfer

of sounding data in the binary code FM-94 BUFR from 1 November 2017. Sounding of the atmosphere at Mirny and

Novolazarevskaya stations was carried out by means of the upgraded system AVK-1- AP “EOL” with the use of radio-

sondes AK2-02m. The program of upper-air observations for the IV quarter 2017 was fulfilled for 99%. There were two

gaps (due to meteorological conditions at Mirny station).

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-favg)/f). For the monthly totals of

precipitation and total radiation, relative anomalies (f/favg) are also presented. 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. For Progress station, the anomalies are not calculated due to a

short observation series. In connection with the instrument failure, the data on total ozone at Vostok station are absent.

The Bulletin contains brief overviews containing assessments of the state of the Antarctic environment based on

the 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 2005.

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 of this issue publishes the results of seismic observations of the Federal Research Center "Geophysical

Service of the Russian Academy of Science" at Mirny andNovolazarevskaya stations in 2016.

Section 8 is devoted to the main events of RAE logistical activity during the quarter under consideration.

2

RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS AND FIELD BASES

MIRNY STATION Ст. Мирный

STATION SYNOPTIC INDEX 89592

METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 39.9 m

GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = 6633 S; = 9301 E

GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES = -76.8; = 151.1

BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY December 7 – January 5

BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT No

NOVOLAZAREVSKAYA STATION


METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 119 m


GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES = -62.6; = 51.0 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY November 15 – January 28

BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT May 21 – July 23

BELLINGSHAUSEN STATION


METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 15.4 m

GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = 6212 S; = 5856 W

BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY No

BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT No

PROGRESS STATION


METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 14,6 m


BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY November 21 – January 22

BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT May 28 – July 16

VOSTOK STATION


METEOROLOGICAL SITE HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 3488 m


GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES = -89.3; = 139.5 BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY October 21 – February 21

BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT April 23 – August 21

Field Base Molodezhnaya


HEIGHT OF AWS ABOVE SEA LEVEL 40 m


BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR DAY November 29 – January 13

BEGINNING AND END OF POLAR NIGHT June 11 – July 2

Field Base Leningradskaya



GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = 6930,1 S; = 15923,2 E

Field Base Russkaya



GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES = 7646 S; = 13647,9 E

Field Base Druzhnaya-4

HEIGHT OF ABOVE SEA LEVEL 50 m


Field Camp Oasis (Bunger Oasis)

SYNOPTIC INDEX 89601

AWS HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL 9 M

GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES =6616.5 S; =10044.8 E

3

1. DATA OF AEROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN

ANTARCTIC STATIONS

OCTOBER 2017

MIRNY STATION

Table 1.1

Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear

averages (favg)

Mirny, October 2017

Parameter f fmax fmin Anomaly

f-favg

Normalized

anomaly

(f-favg)/f

Relative

anomaly

f/favg

Sea level air pressure, hPa 984.8 999.5 964.7 3.0 0.7

Air temperature, C −14.3 −4.0 −28.1 −0.9 −0.4

Relative humidity, % 68 −1.0 −0.2

Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 7.0 0.2 0.2

Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 2.9 0.4 0.3

Precipitation, mm 27.6 −15.9 −0.4 0.6

Wind speed, m/s 8.4 22.0 −2.2 −1.4

Maximum wind gust, m/s 27.0

Prevailing wind direction, deg 110

Total radiation, MJ/m2 500.7 −332.6 −9.5 0.3

Total ozone content (TO), DU 319 429 205

4

Fig. 1.1. 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 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-29

-24

-19

-14

-9

-4

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

air

tem

per

atur

e, °

C

966

976

986

996

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sea

lev

el a

ir p

ress

ure,

hP

a

49

59

69

79

89

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rela

tiv

e h

um

idit

y, %

0

10

20

30

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d s

pee

d, m

/sec

0

5

10

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n su

m,m

m

27

29

31

33

35

37

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sn

ow

co

ver

thic

kness

, cm

5

Table 1.2

Results of aerological atmospheric sounding (from CLIMAT-TEMP messages)

Mirny, October 2017

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

979 39 −14.1 4.8

925 468 −15.3 6.3 92 12 94 0 0

850 1101 −19.0 5.4 88 12 95 0 0

700 2531 −23.6 5.7 69 6 62 0 0

500 4923 −36.4 6.6 340 2 15 0 0

400 6437 −45.9 6.7 290 3 28 0 0

300 8297 −57.4 6.8 277 6 44 0 0

200 10807 −62.8 7.3 280 12 84 0 0

150 12580 −62.1 7.8 282 18 91 0 0

100 15105 −58.9 9.0 282 27 92 1 1

70 17360 −54.0 10.2 286 35 91 1 1

50 19565 −49.2 11.7 287 42 91 3 3

30 22948 −44.0 14.8 289 45 91 3 3

20 25785 −39.5 17.3 289 42 90 7 7

10 30826 −36.6 22.6 289 29 87 16 ≥9

Table 1.3

Anomalies of standard isobaric surface height and temperature

Mirny, October 2017

P hPa (Н-Нavg), m (Н-Havg)/Н (Т-Тavg), С (Т-Тavg)/Т

850 7 0.2 −1.8 −1.2

700 −6 −0.2 −1.2 −1.0

500 −21 −0.5 0.1 0.1

400 −19 −0.4 0.7 0.4

300 −15 −0.3 0.8 0.5

200 −9 −0.1 1.7 0.8

150 3 0.0 1.7 0.5

100 27 0.2 1.8 0.4

70 44 0.3 2.3 0.4

50 85 0.4 2.6 0.4

30 104 0.3 0.8 0.1

20 136 0.4 −0.6 −0.1

10 361 0.9 −5.9 −1.3

6


Table 1.4


averages (favg)

Novolazarevskaya, October 2017


f-favg

Normalized

anomaly

(f-favg)/f

Relative

anomaly

f/favg


−9.8 0.5 −20.9 2.8 1.9


Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 5.1 −0.5 −0.5



Wind speed, m/s 8.9 22.0 −1.1 −0.8



Total radiation, MJ/m2 504.3 47.3 1.3 1.1


7



values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow coverage (F).

Novolazarevskaya station, October 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-21-19-17-15-13-11

-9-7-5-3-1

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace a

ir t

em

pera

ture

, °C

975

980

985

990

995

1000

1005

1010

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sea

lev

el a

ir p

ress

ure,

hP

a

25

35

45

55

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rela

tiv

e h

um

idit

y, %

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d sp

eed,

m/s

ec

0

1

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n s

um

,mm

5

6

7

8

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sno

w c

ov

erag

e, t

enth

s

8

Table 1.5



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

976 122 −9.5 13.4 0 0 0 0 0

925 531 −11.1 14.6 108 12 93 0 0

850 1173 −15.6 15.1 103 13 92 0 0

700 2614 −22.1 13.2 111 8 69 0 0

500 5031 −34.3 12.8 197 4 41 0 0

400 6554 −45.3 12.0 220 6 48 0 0

300 8408 −59.3 10.8 239 8 56 0 0

200 10850 −73.6 9.7 253 10 70 0 0

150 12514 −76.1 10.0 262 11 83 0 0

100 14840 −78.0 10.7 270 14 91 0 0

70 16878 −76.4 11.7 276 16 92 0 0

50 18819 −73.5 12.9 281 19 92 0 0

30 21878 −61.8 16.2 289 24 93 0 0

20 24442 −52.1 19.3 294 26 91 0 0

10 28984 −37.1 23.8 292 20 86 7 7

Table 1.6

Anomalies of standard isobaric surface heights and temperature



850 59 1.6 2.9 1.9

700 74 1.7 3.5 2.2

500 110 2.1 4.4 2.3

400 133 2.1 3.3 2.0

300 145 2.1 1.0 0.9

200 123 1.7 −4.4 −2.4

150 68 0.8 −5.5 −2.4

100 −8 −0.1 −7.4 −2.2

70 −96 −0.9 −7.4 −2.0

50 −191 −1.3 −7.2 −1.6

30 −298 −1.4 −2.6 −0.4

20 −339 −1.2 −1.0 −0.1

10 −464 −1.1 1.0 0.1

9


Table 1.7


averages (favg)

Bellingshausen, October 2017


f-favg

Normalized

anomaly

(f-favg)/f

Relative

anomaly

f/favg

Sea level air pressure, hPa 984.6 1007.1 956.9 −5.2 −1.0

Air temperature, C −2.9 3.6 −10.6 −0.3 −0.3

Relative humidity, % 87.0 −1.2 −0.4


Lower cloudiness (sky coverage),tenths 9.0 1.0 1.7

Precipitation, mm 68.5 18.9 1.2 1.4

Wind speed, m/s 7.7 16.0 −0.3 −0.3


Prevailing wind direction, deg 225.0


10




Bellingshausen station, October 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-11

-6

-1

4

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

air

tem

per

atur

e, °

C

959

969

979

989

999

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sea l

evel air

pre

ssure

, h

Pa

70

80

90

100

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rel

ativ

e h

umid

ity

, %

4

14

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d sp

eed,

m/s

ec

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dail

y p

recip

itati

on s

um

,mm

44

48

52

56

60

64

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sno

w c

ov

erag

e, t

enth

s

11

PROGRESS STATION

Table 1.8

Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f)

Progress, October 2017

Parameter f fmax fmin

Sea level air pressure, hPa 987.0 1003.0 969.5

Air temperature, 0C −13.1 −3.3 −25.8

Relative humidity, % 56

Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 7.1

Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 2.7

Precipitation, mm 1.6

Wind speed, m/s 6.5 19.0



Total radiation, MJ/m2 445.5

12




Progress station, October 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-26

-22

-18

-14

-10

-6

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace a

ir t

em

pera

ture

, °C

973

978

983

988

993

998

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sea

lev

el a

ir p

ress

ure,

hP

a

41

51

61

71

81

91

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rela

tiv

e h

um

idit

y, %

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d sp

eed,

m/s

ec

0

1

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n s

um

,mm

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sno

w c

ov

erag

e, t

enth

s

13

VOSTOK STATION

Table 1.9


averages (favg)

Vostok, October 2017


f-favg

Normalized

anomaly

(f-favg)/f

Relative

anomaly

f/favg

Station surface level air pressure, hPa 625.7 637.8 611.9 6.3 1.4

Air temperature, C −51.2 −38.9 −67.3 5.8 3.6


Total cloudiness (sky coverage), tenths 6.3 1.7



Wind speed, m/s 5.9 12.0 0.4 0.4




Total ozone content (TO), DU - - -

14


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 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-68

-58

-48

-38

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

air

tem

per

atur

e, °

C

612

617

622

627

632

637

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Air

pre

ssure

, hP

a

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rel

ativ

e h

umid

ity

, %

3

5

7

9

11

13

15

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d sp

eed,

m/s

ec

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n su

m,m

m

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sno

w c

ov

erag

e, t

enth

s

15

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 7

Fig.1.6. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations. October 2017.

(f-favg)/f 0.7 1.5 -1.0 1.4

(f-favg)/f -0.4 1.9 -0.3 3.6

(f-favg)/f -0.2 -2.6 -0.4 -4.7

(f-favg)/f 0.2 -0.5 1.3 1.7

f/favg 0.6 0.0 1.4 0.7

(f-favg)/σf -1.4 -0.8 -0.3 0.4

984.8 990.6 984.6 987.0 625.7

500

750

1000

Mirny Novolaz Bellings Progress Vostok

Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hPa (pressure at Vostok station is ground level pressure)

-14.3 -9.8 -2.9 -13.1-51.2

-60

-40

-20

0


Air temperature, °C

68 33 87 56 50

0

50

100


Relative humidity, %

7.0 5.1 9.5 7.1 6.3

0

5

10


Total cloudiness, tenths

27.6 0.0 68.5 1.6 1.4

0

20

40

60

80


Precipitation, mm

8.4 8.9 7.7 6.5 5.9

0

5

10

15


Mean wind speed, m/s

16

NOVEMBER 2017

MIRNY STATION

Table 1.10


averages (favg)

Mirny, November 2017


f-favg

Normalized

anomaly

(f-favg)/f

Relative

anomaly

f/favg


Air temperature, 0C −6.6 4.6 −21.1 0.7 0.5

Relative humidity, % 68 0.2 0.1




Wind speed, m/s 7.4 23.0 −2.4 −2.0





17




Mirny station, November 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-22

-17

-12

-7

-2

3

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

air

tem

per

atur

e, °

C

964

974

984

994

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sea

lev

el a

ir p

ress

ure,

hP

a

56

66

76

86

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rela

tiv

e h

um

idit

y, %

0

10

20

30

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d s

pee

d, m

/sec

-3

1

5

9

13

17

21

25

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n su

m,m

m

30

34

38

42

46

50

54

58

62

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sn

ow

co

ver

thic

kness

, cm

18

Table 1.11



Isobaric

surface,

P hPa

Isobaric

surface

height,

H m

Temperatur

e, T 0C

Dew point

deficit,

D 0C

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 39 −9.1 5.0

925 476 −8.0 8.5 89 12 97 1 2

850 1126 −11.6 7.5 90 10 86 1 2

700 2593 −18.0 9.7 93 5 56 1 1

500 5033 −32.3 10.2 108 2 20 1 2

400 6571 −42.7 9.9 204 2 17 1 1

300 8452 −55.8 9.1 230 4 26 1 1

200 10966 −63.3 9.0 253 7 54 1 1

150 12735 −62.6 9.5 258 10 72 1 2

100 15239 −61.3 10.4 271 12 68 1 1

70 17468 −56.3 11.6 280 13 64 1 1

50 19635 −49.4 13.1 293 14 60 1 1

30 23069 −38.1 17.6 313 13 56 1 2

20 25912 −31.6 21.5 331 13 58 2 3

10 30842 −27.1 24.1 2 10 52 6 6

Table 1.12




850 −22 −0.7 0.9 0.9

700 −20 −0.6 1.0 0.8

500 −20 −0.4 0.4 0.3

400 −19 −0.3 0.2 0.1

300 −29 −0.5 −1.6 −1.1

200 −94 −1.1 −7.8 −2.5

150 −168 −1.6 −9.7 −2.5

100 −311 −2.1 −13.6 −3.1

70 −463 −2.5 −13.2 −3.6

50 −579 −2.8 −9.8 −3.5

30 −673 −3.1 −2.9 −1.0

20 −669 −3.0 0.9 0.3

10 −655 −2.8 1.8 0.5

19


Table 1.13


averages (favg)

Novolazarevskaya, November 2017


f-favg

Normalized

anomaly

(f-favg)/f

Relative

anomaly

f/favg







Wind speed, m/s 9.8 25.0 0.4 0.2





20




Novolazarevskaya station, November 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-17-15-13-11

-9-7-5-3-1135

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace a

ir t

em

pera

ture

, °C

970

975

980

985

990

995

1000

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sea

lev

el a

ir p

ress

ure,

hP

a

36

46

56

66

76

86

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rela

tiv

e h

um

idit

y, %

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d sp

eed,

m/s

ec

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n s

um

,mm

5

6

7

8

9

10

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sno

w c

ov

erag

e, t

enth

s

21

Table 1.14



Isobaric

surface,

P hPa

Isobaric

surface

height,

H m

Temperatur

e, T 0C

Dew point

deficit,

D 0C

Resultant

wind

direction,

deg

Resultant

wind speed,

m/s

Wind

stability

parameter,%

Number of

days

without

temperature

data

Number of

days

without

wind data

967 122 −6.4 8.1 0 0 0 0 0

925 467 −7.6 8.2 108 12 97 0 0

850 1118 −12.0 7.0 93 11 93 0 0

700 2575 −20.5 5.6 83 6 63 0 0

500 4999 −33.7 7.7 330 3 30 0 0

400 6527 −44.2 8.7 305 5 39 0 0

300 8403 −55.0 8.7 298 9 54 0 0

200 10964 −57.5 10.7 281 12 72 0 0

150 12777 −57.4 12.4 273 14 77 0 0

100 15342 −56.3 14.6 265 15 78 0 0

70 17611 −53.8 15.6 255 16 79 0 0

50 19784 −50.8 17.6 246 15 76 0 0

30 23160 −43.5 20.5 229 11 66 0 0

20 25911 −38.1 22.6 212 9 61 0 0

Table 1.15




850 −33 −1.1 1.0 0.9

700 −32 −1.0 1.2 1.1

500 −24 −0.6 1.2 0.9

400 −21 −0.4 0.8 0.7

300 −15 −0.3 1.8 1.6

200 21 0.3 4.1 1.3

150 46 0.5 2.6 0.6

100 55 0.4 −0.5 −0.1

70 27 0.1 −2.7 −0.5

50 −10 0.0 −4.2 −0.9

30 −87 −0.3 −4.1 −1.0

20 −117 −0.4 −4.0 −1.0

22


Table 1.16


averages (favg)

Bellingshausen, November 2017


f-favg

Normalized

anomaly

(f-favg)/f

Relative

anomaly

f/favg


Air temperature, 0C −1.3 2.6 −7.8 −0.1 −0.1





Wind speed, m/s 6.0 16.0 −1.0 −1.1




23




Bellingshausen station, November 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-8

-3

2

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

air

tem

per

atur

e, °

C

959

969

979

989

999

1009

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sea

lev

el a

ir p

ress

ure

, hP

a

67

77

87

97

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rel

ativ

e h

umid

ity

, %

2

6

10

14

18

22

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d sp

eed,

m/s

ec

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n su

m,m

m

30

34

38

42

46

50

54

58

62

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sno

w c

ov

erag

e, t

enth

s

24

PROGRESS STATION

Table 1.17


Progress, November 2017



Air temperature, 0C −4.2 3.6 −14.8









25




Progress station, November 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-16

-12

-8

-4

0

4

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace a

ir t

em

pera

ture

, °C

970

975

980

985

990

995

1000

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sea

lev

el a

ir p

ress

ure,

hP

a

38

48

58

68

78

88

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rela

tiv

e h

um

idit

y, %

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d sp

eed,

m/s

ec

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n s

um

,mm

11121314151617181920212223

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sno

w c

ov

erag

e, t

enth

s

26

VOSTOK STATION

Table 1.18


averages (favg)

Vostok, November 2017


f-favg

Normalized

anomaly

(f-favg)/f

Relative

anomaly

f/favg

Station surface level air pressure, hPa 623.6 641.4 614.3 −2.1 −0.4

Air temperature, C −40.2 −24.7 −48.4 2.9 1.9





Wind speed, m/s 5.7 11.0 0.5 0.6




Total ozone content (TO), DU

27



line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F).

Vostok station, November 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-50

-46

-42

-38

-34

-30

-26

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

air

tem

per

atur

e, °

C

615

620

625

630

635

640

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Air

pre

ssure

, hP

a

46

48

50

52

54

56

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rel

ativ

e h

umid

ity

, %

1

3

5

7

9

11

13

15

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d sp

eed,

m/s

ec

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n su

m,m

m

116

117

118

119

120

121

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sno

w c

ov

erag

e, t

enth

s

28

N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 7

Fig. 1.12. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations.

November 2017.

(f-favg)/σf -0.7 -0.9 0.1 -0.4

(f-favg)/σf 0.5 0.5 -0.1 1.9

(f-favg)/σf 0.1 0.6 0.1 -5.0

(f-favg)/σf -1.4 1.5 0.0 2.4

f/favg 2.1 2.6 1.0 1.6

(f-favg)/σf -2.0 0.2 -1.1 0.6

983.4 982.2 988.3 984.1 623.6

500

750

1000


Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hPa(pressure at Vostok station is ground level pressure)

-6.6 -5.2 -1.3 -4.2 -40.2

-60

-40

-20

0



68 56 88 58 51

0

50

100



5.4 8.0 9.2 6.9 5.2

0

5

10



71.5 20.9 49.8 12.7 1.4

-10

20

50

80


Precipitation, mm

7.4 9.8 6.0 4.4 5.7

0

5

10

15



29

DECEMBER 2017

MIRNY STATION

Table 1.19


averages (favg)

Mirny, December 2017


f-favg

Normalized

anomaly

(f-favg)/f

Relative

anomaly

f/favg


Air temperature, 0C −3.9 5.6 −14.7 −1.4 −1.6



Lower cloudiness(sky coverage),tenths 2.3 −0.7 −0.6


Wind speed, m/s 6.6 23.0 −1.9 −1.5





30




Mirny station, December 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-15

-10

-5

0

5

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

air

tem

per

atur

e, °

C

970

980

990

1000

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sea

lev

el a

ir p

ress

ure,

hP

a

59

69

79

89

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rel

ativ

e h

umid

ity

, %

0

10

20

30

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace w

ind s

peed, m

/sec

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n su

m,m

m

52

54

56

58

60

62

64

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sn

ow

co

ver

th

ick

nes

s, c

m

31

Table 1.20



Isobaric

surface,

P hPa

Isobaric

surface

height,

H m

Temperatur

e, T 0C

Dew point

deficit,

D 0C

Resultant

wind

direction,

deg

Resultant

wind speed,

m/s

Wind

stability

parameter,%

Number of

days

without

temperature

data

Number of

days

without

wind data

981 39 −6.1 4.5

925 501 −5.4 9.2 91 10 95 0 0

850 1158 −9.0 9.4 87 7 88 0 0

700 2635 −16.6 10.8 71 3 40 0 0

500 5089 −30.7 9.5 276 2 23 0 0

400 6639 −40.5 9.3 257 5 34 0 0

300 8550 −50.2 9.2 261 8 47 0 0

200 11200 −47.4 12.2 265 10 76 0 1

150 13106 −45.7 15.1 263 11 84 0 0

100 15816 −44.0 17.8 264 10 87 0 0

70 18210 −42.2 19.6 265 8 86 0 0

50 20487 −41.4 20.6 268 5 78 0 0

30 23958 −39.9 21.8 74 1 24 0 0

20 26729 −38.8 23.0 86 5 90 0 0

10 31526 −33.2 25.2 86 9 98 5 5

Table 1.21




850 −36 −1.1 −0.1 −0.1

700 −42 −1.2 −0.2 −0.2

500 −55 −1.2 −0.7 −0.6

400 −63 −1.2 −0.5 −0.4

300 −65 −1.1 1.2 0.9

200 −58 −0.9 0.1 0.1

150 −62 −0.9 −0.5 −0.2

100 −74 −0.9 −1.4 −0.7

70 −109 −1.1 −1.5 −1.1

50 −118 −1.2 −2.2 −1.7

30 −168 −1.7 −3.5 −2.1

20 −222 −2.3 −5.2 −2.3

10 −331 −2.7 −5.1 −2.1

32


Table 1.22


averages (favg)

Novolazarevskaya, December 2017


f-favg

Normalized

anomaly

(f-favg)/f

Relative

anomaly

f/favg







Wind speed, m/s 7.0 20.0 −0.4 −0.2





33




Novolazarevskaya station, December 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace a

ir t

em

pera

ture

, °C

975

980

985

990

995

1000

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sea

lev

el a

ir p

ress

ure,

hP

a

35

45

55

65

75

85

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rela

tiv

e h

um

idit

y, %

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d sp

eed,

m/s

ec

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n s

um

,mm

1

2

3

4

5

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sno

w c

ov

erag

e, t

enth

s

34

Table 1.23



Isobaric

surface,

P hPa

Isobaric

surface

height,

H m

Temperatur

e, T 0C

Dew point

deficit,

D 0C

Resultant

wind

direction,

deg

Resultant

wind speed,

m/s

Wind

stability

parameter,%

Number of

days

without

temperature

data

Number of

days

without

wind data

966 969 122 −1.2 9.2 0 0 0 0

925 925 491 −3.1 9.6 105 11 93 0

850 850 1153 −7.8 10.4 98 12 94 0

700 700 2631 −17.2 10.1 88 11 89 0

500 500 5088 −29.3 10.0 83 5 48 0

400 400 6647 −39.6 9.7 82 4 25 0

300 300 8558 −51.4 9.3 68 2 11 0

200 200 11172 −50.3 11.3 266 4 32 0

150 150 13060 −47.7 13.7 282 5 50 0

100 100 15752 −44.9 17.5 287 6 59 0

70 70 18144 −41.7 20.5 302 6 57 0

50 50 20430 −40.0 22.7 306 4 54 0

30 30 23938 −36.4 24.8 354 3 40 0

20 20 26757 −34.6 25.9 50 3 56 1

Table 1.24




850 −52 −1.2 1.0 1.3

700 −50 −1.0 1.1 0.9

500 −43 −0.8 2.2 1.4

400 −31 −0.5 2.0 1.4

300 −22 −0.3 1.2 0.9

200 −29 −0.4 −0.7 −0.2

150 −36 −0.4 −1.0 −0.3

100 −45 −0.4 −2.0 −0.8

70 −66 −0.5 −1.2 −0.6

50 −93 −0.7 −1.9 −1.3

30 −131 −1.0 −1.1 −0.5

20 −135 −0.9 −1.9 −0.8

35


Table 1.25

Monthly averages of meteorological parameters (f) and their deviations from the multiyear averages (favg)

Bellingshausen, December 2017


f-favg

Normalized

anomaly

(f-favg)/f

Relative

anomaly

f/favg


Air temperature, 0C 0.4 5.2 −4.3 0.0 0.0





Wind speed, m/s 6.2 13.0 −0.4 −0.5




36




Bellingshausen station, December 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-5

0

5

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

air

tem

per

atur

e, °

C

959

969

979

989

999

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sea l

evel air

pre

ssure

, h

Pa

70

80

90

100

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rel

ativ

e h

umid

ity

, %

2

12

22

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d sp

eed,

m/s

ec

0

2

4

6

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dail

y p

recip

itati

on s

um

,mm

2

6

10

14

18

22

26

30

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sno

w c

ov

erag

e, t

enth

s

37

PROGRESS STATION

Table 1.26


Progress, December 2017



Air temperature, 0C −1.2 6.1 −7.1









38




Progress station, December 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-8

-4

0

4

8

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace a

ir t

em

pera

ture

, °C

970

974

978

982

986

990

994

998

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sea

lev

el a

ir p

ress

ure,

hP

a

44

54

64

74

84

94

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rela

tiv

e h

um

idit

y, %

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d sp

eed,

m/s

ec

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n s

um

,mm

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sno

w c

ov

erag

e, t

enth

s

39

VOSTOK STATION

Table 1.27


averages (favg)

Vostok, December 2017


f-favg

Normalized

anomaly

(f-favg)/f

Relative

anomaly

f/favg

Ground level air pressure, hPa 628.2 637.1 618.3 −5.6 −1.3

Air temperature, C −32.4 −21.5 −45.2 −0.5 −0.3





Wind speed, m/s 5.0 9.0 0.5 0.6




Total ozone content (TO), DU

40



line) values of surface wind speed, maximum wind gust (D, dashed line), precipitation (E) and snow cover thickness (F).

Vostok station, December 2017.

А B

C D

E F

-46

-36

-26

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

air

tem

per

atur

e, °

C

616

621

626

631

636

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Air

pre

ssure

, hP

a

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Rel

ativ

e h

umid

ity

, %

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Surf

ace

win

d sp

eed,

m/s

ec

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Dai

ly p

reci

pit

atio

n su

m,m

m

116

117

118

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Sno

w c

ov

erag

e, t

enth

s

41

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7

Fig. 1.18. Comparison of monthly averages of meteorological parameters at the stations.

December 2017.

(f-favg)/σf -0.9 -1.2 -2.1 -1.3

(f-favg)/σf -1.6 1.0 0.0 -0.3

(f-favg)/σf 0.1 -1.9 0.4 -3.9

(f-favg)/σf 0.2 -0.5 1.3 1.7

f/favg 0.8 0.3 0.8 6.2

(f-favg)/σf -0.2 -0.2 -0.5 0.6

986.1 984.6 980.3 985.9 628.2

500

750

1000


Atmospheric pressure at sea level, hPa (pressure at Vostok station is ground level pressure)

-3.9 -0.1 0.4 -1.2 -32.4

-40

-20

0



71 50 89 65 55

0

50

100



4.8 6.3 9.3 6.4 6.6

0

5

10



20.8 1.9 37.1 19.4 3.7

0

20

40


Precipitation, mm

6.6 7.0 6.2 5.1 5.0

0

5

10



42

2. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

Figure 2.1 characterizes the air temperature conditions in October-December 2017 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 1961-1990 were adopted from [4].

In October as compared with September there was an increase of the number of stations with the above zero

anomalies of mean monthly air temperature (Fig. 2.1). The center of the area of the above zero anomalies of air temperature

was located in the inland part of East Antarctica Here at Vostok station, the air temperature anomaly was 5.8°С, 3.6. For

Vostok station, October 2017 became the warmest month for the entire observation period. Large above zero air

temperature anomalies were also noted in the area of the South Pole at Amundsen-Scott station (4.3°С, 1.8) and in the

western part of the Queen Maud Land at Novolazarevskaya station (2.8°С, 1.9). At these stations the past October was

correspondingly the second and fourth warmest October for the entire operation period of the stations. Small (less than

1) below zero air temperature anomalies were observed in the coastal part of the Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica.

The maximum of them was recorded in the area of Casey station (−2.0°С, −0.9).

In November, the above zero air temperature anomaly spread almost over the entire territory of Antarctica. The

center of the heat area remained in the inland part of East Antarctica in the vicinity of Vostok station (2.9°С, 1.9). For

Vostok station, November 2017 became the fifth warmest November for the observation period from 1958. In the area of

the Ross Sea and in the north of the Antarctic Peninsula at the stations, small below zero air temperature anomalies were

recorded.

In December, at most stations in East Antarctica, the below zero air temperature anomalies were observed. The

center of the area of the below zero air temperature anomalies was located in the coastal part of the Indian Ocean sector

of East Antarctica in the vicinity of the Queen Mary Land. Here at Mirny station, the air temperature anomaly was −1.4°С,

−1.6. For Mirny station, December 2017 was the sixth coldest month for the entire observation period. In the area of the

Antarctic Peninsula and the Queen Maud Land, small above zero air temperature anomalies were observed. The center of

the heat area was near Novolazarevskaya station (0.8°С, 1.0).

The statistically significant linear trends of mean monthly air temperature in these months at the Russian stations

were detected only at Vostok station (Figs. 2.2−2.4). The air temperature increase at Vostok station in November and

December was correspondingly about 3.0°С and 1.5°С/60 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 and in December at

Vostok station. They are however statistically insignificant.

The atmospheric pressure at the Russian stations in these months was characterized in these months by

predominantly negative deviations from the multiyear average. And only in October at Novolazarevskaya, Mirny and

Vostok stations, and in November at Bellingshausen station, positive air pressure anomalies were observed. The largest

negative air pressure anomaly was recorded in December at Bellingshausen station (−11.2 hPa, −2.2). Such low air

pressure in December at Bellingshausen station was observed for the first time over the observation period from 1968.

The statistically significant linear trends of mean monthly atmospheric pressure at the Russian stations in these months

were observed in December at Bellingshausen, Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations (Figs. 2.2–2.4). The air pressure

decrease in December at Bellingshausen, Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations was about −6.8 hPa/50 year, −4.2 hPa/61

years and −5.6 hPa/57 years, respectively.

The amount of precipitation at all Russian stations in October, and in December was mainly below the multiyear

average. Only in October at Bellingshausen station, the amount of precipitation was greater than the multiyear average by

50 %. In November, at Bellingshausen and Vostok stations, the amount of precipitation was around the multiyear average,

and at Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations, more intensive fallout of precipitation was recorded. Thus at Mirny station

in this month the amount of precipitation comprised about two monthly averages and at Novolazarevskaya station – about

three monthly averages of precipitation. Of interest is the monthly amount of precipitation recorded in December at Vostok

station, exceeding many times the multiyear average. An analysis of the case of such significant amount of precipitation

showed that this was a result of precipitation blowing into the precipitation gauge.

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/10

years

0.06 0.05 0.04 0.10 −0.05 0.07 0.25 0.35 0.20 0.22 0.15 0.07 0.13

1961−2017 % 11.4 9.5 5.3 9.2 4.1 4.7 15.1 23.9 17.3 21.0 20.0 10.6 34.7

Р − − − − − − − − − − − − 95

Mirny °С/10

years

−0.05 −0.02 −0.08 −0.09 −0.05 −0.03 0.07 0.14 0.42 0.04 0.11 −0.01 0.04

1957−2017 % 7.5 2.4 9.6 7.9 3.6 2.1 4.5 9.3 29.1 4.2 15.8 1.0 8.6

Р − − − − − − − − 99 − − − −

Vostok °С/10

years

0.19 −0.02 −0.03 −0.01 0.02 −0.10 0.16 0.40 0.14 0.24 0.50 0.25 0.15

1958−2017 % 24.0 01.8 2.9 1.0 1.3 5.5 8.1 19.6 7.7 21.8 53.7 30.0 29.3

Р 90 − − − − − − − − − 99 99 95

Bellingshausen °С/10

years

0.02 0.02 0.14 0.06 0.53 0.33 0.26 0.40 0.03 0.06 −0.04 −0.08 0.15

1968−2017 % 3.4 3.6 23.9 6.1 39.7 22.4 12.9 26.2 2.3 07.9 6.6 18.8 27.7

Р − − 90 − 95 − − 90 − − − − 90

2008–2017

Novolazarevskaya оС/10

years

0.07 0.75 −0.85 −0.62 3.16 −2.28 −0.54 2.72 −1.69 5.04 1.04 2.26 0.72

% 2.0 30.4 30.3 11.8 59.7 25.8 8.6 30.3 26.1 71.7 35.5 54.5 42.4

Р − − − − − − − − − 95 − − −

Mirny оС/10

years

0.56 0.77 −1.12 −2.31 −2.50 −5.60 −3.58 2.39 −2.45 0.12 1.85 −0.25 −1.01

% 18.0 18.5 27.3 36.0 31.0 74.0 39.5 37.0 25.9 2.8 48.7 11.0 49.9

Р − − − − − 95 − − − − − − −

Vostok оС/10

years

−0.02 −0.96 −4.58 −1.41 0.07 −0.41 −5.22 4.20 0.85 5.42 1.83 −0.82 −0.06

% 0.7 15.0 67.3 21.5 0.8 3.4 42.4 34.2 9.0 70.2 46.2 30.3 1.8

Р − − 95 − − − − − − 95 − − −

Bellingshausen оС/10

years

−0.75 −0.49 −0.11 0.84 0.04 0.32 1.81 0.51 −1.07 −0.80 −0.97 −0.62 −0.16

% 34.8 18.6 4.9 17.3 2.0 4.9 24.3 10.6 16.8 25.8 31.7 22.2 7.4

Р − − − − − − − − − − − −

Notes:

First line is the linear trend coefficient.

Second line is the dispersion value explained by the linear trend.

Third line: P=1-, where is the level of significance (given if P exceeds 90%).

44

Peculiarities of meteorological conditions in 2017

For characterizing the meteorological conditions in the territory of Antarctica in 2017 let us 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 2017.

In the summer season, over the entire territory of Antarctica there was an area of above zero air temperature

anomalies. The main center of the heat area was traced in the region of the South Pole. Here at Amundsen-Scott station,

the air temperature anomaly was 1.9°С (1.6) (Table 2.2). At Amundsen-Scott station, the summer season 2017 was the

ninth warmest season from 1957.

Table 2.2

Mean seasonal anomalies and normalized air temperature anomalies at the Antarctic stations, °С

Station Summer Autumn Winter Spring Summer Autumn Winter Spring

Anomalies Normalized anomalies

Amundsen-Scott 1.9 0.7 −0.1 2.6 1.6 0.6 0.0 1.6

Novolazarevskaya 1.0 0.0 −0.7 1.4 1.4 0.0 −0.5 1.3

Syowa 0.3 1.4 −1.2 1.0 0.5 1.1 −0.8 0.9

Mawson 0.4 −0.3 −0.5 −0.3 0.6 −0.2 −0.3 −0.3

Davis 0.8 −0.5 −0.9 −0.7 1.1 −0.4 −0.6 −0.4

Mirny 0.7 0.3 −1.4 −0.5 1.1 0.2 −0.9 −0.4

Casey 0.4 0.8 −3.5 −0.9 0.7 0.5 −1.9 −0.7

Dumont D’Urville 1.0 2.9 −2.9 0.4 1.5 1.9 −1.9 0.4

McMurdo 0.5 2.5 1.2 0.4 0.6 1.6 0.7 0.3

Rothera 0.4 2.7 3.7 −0.8 0.6 1.5 1.2 −0.4

Bellingshausen 0.2 1.3 1.5 −0.1 0.5 1.3 0.8 −0.1

Orcadas 0.2 0.6 2.6 0.9 0.4 0.5 1.1 0.7

Vostok 0.8 −0.4 0.0 2.7 0.9 −0.3 0.0 2.0

Notes:

1) 1 — summer season includes December of the previous year;

2) 2 — bold print denotes the air temperature anomalies of 1.5 and more.

In the autumn season, the above zero air temperature anomalies were preserved over much of Antarctica. The

main center of the heat area was located in the eastern part of East Antarctica. Here in the region of the Adelie Land at

Dumont D’Urville station and on Victoria Land at McMurdo station, the anomalies of mean seasonal air temperature 2.9°С

(1.9) and 2.5°С (1.6), respectively. Another heat area was observed in the vicinity of the Antarctic Peninsula with the

center near Rothera station (2.7°С, 1.5). The autumn season at Dumont D’Urville and McMurdo stations was the fourth

and at Rothera station the second warmest season from 1957. The below zero air temperature anomalies were observed in

East Antarctica. Here in the coastal zone of the Mac-Robertson Land and in the inland part, one noted small (less than 1)

by value anomalies.

In the winter season, the below zero air temperature anomalies were observed at most stations of East Antarctica.

The cold center was in the vicinity of the Wilkes Land. Here near the Casey station the air temperature anomaly was

−3.5°С, −1.9 . The winter season 2017 was the third coldest season at the station from 1957. The area of the above zero

anomalies of mean seasonal air temperature was noted in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula and the Ross Sea. The largest

above zero air temperature anomaly was recorded near Rothera station (3.7°С, 1.2). At Rothera station, the winter season

2017 was the sixth warmest season from 1957.

In the spring season, the above zero air temperature anomalies were recorded over much of the territory of

Antarctica. The center of the area of the above zero air temperature anomalies was located in the inland part of the

continent. Here at Vostok station, the air temperature anomaly comprised 2.7°С, 2.0 and at Amundsen-Scott station, it

was 2.6°С, 1.6. For these stations the spring season of 2017 became the third in a series of the largest values for the entire

observation period. Small (less than 1) below zero air temperature values were noted at the stations in the area of the

Antarctic Peninsula and in the coastal part of the Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica.

In general, for the year, the values of anomalies of mean annual air temperature are not large at most stations (see

Fig. 2.1, Table 2.3). The center of the area of the above zero air temperature anomalies was located in the vicinity of the

Antarctic Peninsula near Rothera station (1.5°С, 1.0). At Rothera station, the year 2017 was the eighth warmest year for

the entire observation period. In the coastal part of the Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica, one observed an area of the

below zero air temperature anomalies with the center in the region of the Wilkes Land. Here at Casey station, the air

45

temperature anomaly was −0.9°С, −0.9. For Casey station, the past year was the eighth coldest year for the entire

observation period.

Table 2.3

Mean annual air temperature (T°С), its anomalies (ΔT°С) and normalized anomalies (ΔT/σ) at the Antarctic stations in

2017

Station T ΔT ΔT/σ Rank by

decrease

Rank by increase Largest

anomaly

Least

Anomaly

Amundsen-Scott −48.3 1.1 1.9 4 22 2013(+1.9) 1983(−1.6)

Novolazarevskaya −10.0 0.3 0.4 11 13 2002(+1.6) 1976(−1.0)

Syowa −10.1 0.3 0.5 9 18 1980(+2.2) 1976(−1.7)

Mawson −11.6 −0.3 −0.4 16 13 1961(+1.7) 1982(−2.2)

Davis −10.8 −0.4 −0.5 19 11 2007(+2.4) 1982(−2.4)

Mirny −11.7 −0.4 −0.6 18 9 2007(+1.9) 1993(−1.5)

Casey −9.7 −0.9 −0.9 20 8 1980(+2.5) 1999(−2.3)

Dumont D’Urville −11.4 −0.8 −1.3 17 5 1981(+1.8) 1999(−1.5)

McMurdo −16.0 1.1 1.2 8 23 2011(+2.7) 1968(−1.5)

Rothera −3.3 1.5 1.0 8 28 1989(+3.0) 1980(−3.8)

Bellingshausen −1.8 0.7 0.9 7 13 1989(+1.8) 1980(−1.5)

Orcadas −2.4 1.1 1.2 6 20 1989(+2.1) 1980(−2.6)

Vostok −54.6 0.7 0.9 8 20 2007(+2.2) 1960(−2.0)

Note:

The Table contains in brackets the values of the largest and smallest anomalies observed at each station.

In 2017, new highest and lowest mean monthly air temperature values at the Antarctic stations were recorded

(Table 2.4).

Table 2.4

New highest and lowest mean monthly air temperature values at the Antarctic stations in 2017, °С

Station New mean monthly maximum New mean monthly minimum

Rothera (III) 1.2 °C (2.7 °С, 1.9 ) –

Mirny (VI) – −20.7 °C (−5.3 °С, −2.5 )

Vostok (X) −51.2 °C (5.8 °С, 3.6 ) –

Note:

The 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

1957-2017 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.

Estimates of the linear trends of winter air temperature at the Antarctic stations showed the above zero air

temperature trends to prevail. The statistically significant positive trends are noted in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula

and at the Atlantic coast – (Rothera station, 4.8 °C/61 years, Novolazarevskaya station, 1.2 °С/57 years). 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 Indian Ocean coast. These trends are however statistically insignificant.

In the spring season, the above zero trends are present 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) and in the area of

the Ross Sea (McMurdo station). At these stations, the air temperature increase was 1.7°С, 2.7°С/61 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 4.2°С/61

years and at Bellingshausen station, it was 1.2°С/50 years. In the inland regions a positive sign of the trend is also noted.

Here, the largest trend value is recorded in the changes of summer air temperature at Vostok station (1.0 °С/60 years). An

insignificant air temperature decrease persists in the central part of the Indian Ocean coast in the summer and autumn

seasons.

46

Table 2.5

Linear trend parameters of mean seasonal and mean annual air temperature

Station Summer Autumn Winter Spring Year

Bx D Bx D Bx D Bx D Bx D

1957−2017

Amundsen-Scott 0.10 13.1 0.04 5.8 −0.08 8.8 0.21 23.0 0.05 12.7

Novolazarevskaya 0.06 13.3 0.03 3.9 0.22 22.7 0.19 29.6 0.14 34.4

Syowa 0.03 10.2 −0.09 12.9 0.10 10.4 0.06 10.0 0.03 6.5

Mawson −0.03 07.6 −0.15 19.4 −0.04 4.2 0.12 20.2 −0.03 6.1

Davis 0.07 17.6 −0.12 12.7 −0.06 5.8 0.28 35.0 0.05 9.4

Mirny −0.01 3.3 −0.08 8.8 0.06 6.7 0.19 28.1 0.04 9.9

Casey −0.04 11.2 −0.10 9.9 0.04 3.3 0.13 17.1 0.00 0.1

Dumont D’Urville 0.01 3.2 0.00 0.4 −0.10 10.6 0.11 19.2 −0.06 15.5

McMurdo 0.13 24.7 0.23 25.4 0.25 21.6 0.45 48.3 0.27 47.5

Rothera 0.10 28.5 0.69 59.6 0.78 42.3 0.22 23.1 0.45 50.1

Bellingshausen −0.02 5.6 0.25 34.5 0.33 25.6 0.12 1.9 0.15 27.9

Orcadas 0.11 32.3 0.18 23.1 0.41 34.3 0.10 14.3 0.20 41.5

Vostok 0.16 28.7 −0.01 0.1 0.15 12.4 0.29 35.1 0.17 31.5

1988−2017

Amundsen-Scott 0.57 36.4 0.61 35.2 −0.02 1.0 0.46 27.6 0.40 37.8

Novolazarevskaya −0.19 21.6 −0.02 2.1 −0.36 21.6 0.11 9.8 −0.11 15.5

Syowa −0.03 04.4 −0.14 9.5 −0.20 10.3 0.28 20.2 −0.02 2.3

Mawson −0.17 20.2 −0.11 6.2 −0.35 19.0 0.25 22.7 −0.10 12.0

Davis 0.08 10.9 −0.19 9.3 −0.70 32.0 0.13 9.3 −0.17 16.1

Mirny 0.20 20.0 0.02 1.2 −0.53 28.1 0.19 15.7 −0.03 3.2

Casey −0.05 5.7 0.12 6.8 −0.69 33.5 0.06 4.7 −0.14 16.4

Dumont D’Urville 0.15 19.8 −0.37 19.7 −0.75 40.4 −0.03 2.5 −0.19 27.6

McMurdo 0.60 56.5 0.51 28.1 0.08 3.1 0.15 11.2 0.33 32.1

Rothera −0.24 36.7 0.28 27.1 0.30 11.3 −0.09 6.1 0.06 5.2

Bellingshausen −0.36 51.4 0.21 18.1 0.07 3.4 −0.04 4.1 −0.05 6.0

Orcadas −0.23 33.7 0.02 1.8 −0.10 5.1 0.31 19.1 0.00 0.4

Vostok 0.12 10.5 0.13 7.7 0.00 0.0 0.80 46.8 0.24 22.1

2008−2017

Amundsen-Scott 0.16 4.3 −0.17 3.5 −0.37 6.9 0.70 18.9 0.04 1.9

Novolazarevskaya 0.86 33.1 0.53 21.4 −0.04 0.8 1.41 46.4 0.69 37.2

Syowa 0.26 11.5 2.27 64.7 0.48 7.8 1.39 38.9 1.08 44.3

Mawson 0.70 36.8 −2.24 64.4 −1.35 23.4 0.72 19.2 −0.58 26.1

Davis 0.73 39.0 −3.02 62.8 −1.87 41.7 −0.05 1.1 −1.05 46.6

Mirny 0.88 37.9 −1.99 45.5 −2.24 50.2 −0.17 4.2 −0.85 40.3

Casey 1.09 54.5 −0.40 10.5 −4.84 77.7 −0.63 18.1 −1.21 56.7

Dumont D’Urville 1.04 45.3 −0.16 2.4 −3.32 59.6 −0.35 10.9 −0.79 42.6

McMurdo 0.67 45.6 −1.51 28.9 −0.94 15.6 −1.80 36.0 −0.88 26.9

Rothera −0.84 46.9 0.12 6.6 −1.40 22.4 −2.95 51.2 −1.26 45.2

Bellingshausen −0.79 35.6 0.29 17.7 0.84 15.5 −0.99 26.3 −0.20 10.0

Orcadas −1.52 59.2 −1.53 42.7 0.86 20.7 −1.50 31.8 −0.95 47.1

Vostok −0.

04

1.3 −1.95 64.1 −0.50 5.9 2.64 55.4 0.06 1.8

Note:

The summer season includes December of the preceding year and January-February of the next year, Вх — linear trend

coefficient, °С/10 yr; D — dispersion value explained by the linear trend, %.

In general, a positive linear trend is present in the changes of mean annual air temperature for the period 1957–

2017 at most stations of Antarctica. The statistically significant positive trends of mean annual temperature for the entire

period are noted in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula (Rothera station, 2.7°C/61 years), in the Ross Sea area (McMurdo

station, 1.6°С/61 years), at the inland Vostok station (1.0°/60 years). The tendency for the decrease of mean annual air

temperature for the period 1957–2017 is observed in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean coast (Dumont d’Urville station),

but it is insignificant statistically.

In the last thirty years, almost at all stations of East Antarctica one notes appearance for the mean annual air

temperature of the below zero linear trend. The above zero linear trend is preserved at the inland stations of Antarctica, in

47

the area of the Ross Sea and in the southern part of the Antarctic Peninsula. The statistically significant increase of mean

annual air temperature is observed only in the area of the South Pole. Here at Amundsen-Scott station, the increase of

mean annual air temperature was 1.2°С/30 years.

In the last decade, the main increase of mean annual air temperature was recorded in the area of the Queen Maud

Land. Thus, at Syowa station the linear trend value was 1.1°С/10 years. Over much of the rest of the territory of Antarctica

in the past decade there is noted a decrease of mean annual air temperature. The maximum decrease of air temperature

was observed in the area of the Wilkes Land (Casey station, −1.2°С/10 years) and in the southern part of the Antarctic

Peninsula (Rothera station −1.3°С/10 years.

Thus, the results of monitoring of meteorological conditions of Antarctica in 2017 show preservation of long-

term tendency for the increase of air temperature in the surface layer. However appearance in the last decades of the below

zero tendencies at some stations indicate slowing of the warming process in the South Polar area.

Fig. 2.1. 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 2017 (I-XII) from data of stationary

meteorological stations in the South Polar Area

48

Fig. 2.2. Interannual variations of anomalies of air temperature and atmospheric pressure at the Russian Antarctic

stations. October

49


stations. November

50


stations. December

51

Fig. 2.5. Values of mean seasonal air temperature anomalies at the Antarctic stations in 2017, °С

References:

1. http://www.south.aari.nw.ru;

2. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/climate/climatedata.html;

3. http://legacy.bas.ac.uk/met/READER/;

4. Atlas of the Oceans. The Southern Ocean. GUNiO МО RF, St. Petersburg, 2005

52

3. REVIEW OF THE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES OVER THE ANTARCTIC IN

OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2017

The present reviews use data on the circulation forms of the Southern Hemisphere. Let us remind the main

definitions and characteristics of these forms.

The method of typification of the periods of atmospheric circulation was proposed for the Northern Hemisphere

by Professor G.Ya. Vangengeim [2] and was further applied to the classification of atmospheric processes of the Southern

Hemisphere [3]. The detailed characteristics of the forms are given in the edition “Atlas of the Oceans” [1]. The examples

of synoptic situations at different circulation forms are given in Fig. 3.1 on the surface [5] and altitudinal [7] charts for the

reporting period.

Fig. 3.1. Examples of synoptic situations (surface charts and charts of baric topography of the surface

500 hPa at the forms of atmospheric circulation Z (2 December 2017), Ма (3 October 2017) and Мв (13 October 2017) in

the Southern Hemisphere

At the zonal circulation form one observes a weakly disturbed baric field. At the meridional circulation forms in

the troposphere one observes stationary baric waves of large amplitude. The location of the altitudinal ridges and troughs

at the circulation forms Ма and Мв principally differs. At form Ма, two large high pressure ridges are formed at meridians

of the South Atlantic and the Australian sector. Between them there is a low pressure trough above the southern part of

53

the Indian Ocean. Over the central part of the Pacific Ocean sector a high pressure ridge develops as a rule. At the

atmospheric circulation form Мв, the main are the high pressure ridges above the Indian Ocean and the eastern and western

regions of the Pacific Ocean sector. Above the South Atlantic and the Australian sector, extensive troughs are formed at

form Мв, which can be dissected by secondary ridges. One should take into account that the entire multitude of synoptic

conditions is not reduced to the “ideal” types of circulation. Each of the forms has its varieties. For example, a zonal

circulation form can have a mid-latitudinal and high-latitudinal character, depending on the trajectories of cyclones and

location of the polar front. Besides, at the disturbed zonality one can observe the developed ridges and troughs, which

rapidly move from west to east. Also at the development of meridional circulation forms of the atmosphere ridges and

troughs, insignificantly displaced from the average typical location, can be observed. However, the general analysis of the

complex of genesis of the atmospheric processes and macro-circulation of the air masses based on surface and altitudinal

data makes it possible to identify the main features of synoptic situation and refer it to the definite circulation form of the

atmosphere. The obtained data on the basis of daily determination of the circulation forms allow us to identify the main

structural features of the atmospheric processes, determine the main tendencies in their development both for the short

periods and in multiyear trends.

The period under consideration is a transient period from the winter to the summer season. At this time, significant

changes of the hydrometeorological regime are revealed and cardinal modifications of the entire atmospheric circulation

take place.

In October, a significant dominance of zonal circulation was preserved at the rare development of the meridional

atmospheric processes. However, the development of zonality often occurred in the form of rapidly moving from west to

east baric ridges and troughs of large amplitude. The intensity of the atmospheric processes decreased. The rates of

displacement of cyclones, especially at zonal processes, remained high. The most active cyclones deepened to 955–960

hPa, and some cyclones even to 940–945 hPa. The prevailing number of cyclones had a depth of 965–980 hPa. The features

of the end of the winter period appeared in the atmospheric circulation above the temperate and high latitudes of the

Southern Hemisphere.

The Antarctic High was displaced to the area of East Antarctica, where significant positive anomalies of mean

monthly atmospheric pressure were noted, exceeding in some regions a standard deviation (more than 5 hPa). The pressure

anomalies over the Antarctic Peninsula were negative (up to −2–−4 hPa) [6].

Small above zero air temperature anomalies were recorded over much of the Antarctic [4]. The largest air

temperature anomalies were recorded above the Queen Maud Land and the Antarctic Plateau.

Table 3.1.

Frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms of the Southern Hemisphere and their anomalies (days) in

October – December in 2017

Months Frequency of occurrence Anomaly

Z Ma Mb Z Ma Mb

October 22 4 5 9 −7 −2

November 12 12 6 0 1 −1

December 20 5 6 7 −6 −1

In November, for the first time during the year the frequency of occurrence of zonal and meridional circulation

forms became close to mean multiyear values. The intensity of the atmospheric processes continued to decrease. The

prevailing trajectories of cyclones passed along more southern routes, the circumpolar low pressure belt was located at

higher latitudes and the polar front was displaced southward. This has determined the formation above the south polar area

at the decreased Antarctic High of the area of negative pressure anomalies, which reached large values over many regions

(more than 5 hPa).

Approach of intensive cyclonic activity to the shores of Antarctica resulted in the increased transport to the

Antarctic regions of relatively warm and moist air masses, where the above zero air temperature anomalies and increased

amount of precipitation were noted. The excess of the air temperature multiyear average (up to +2ᵒС) spread over most

inland regions. There was a seasonal air temperature increase over the Antarctic Peninsula and its mean values did not

drop below −40ᵒС, and the minimum air temperatures reached a mark of −50, −55ᵒС only at Concordia station and at

Dome Argus [8].

In November, in connection with a significant elevation of the Sun’s height, the contribution of the insolation

factor to the formation of the thermal regime in high latitudes and manifestation of orographic atmospheric phenomena

significantly increased. At many Antarctic stations, fog was often noted. On the Antarctic Peninsula, one often observed

rain and drizzle. Snow and ice melting began in many coastal regions of Antarctica. The drifting ice edge began to retreat

54

to the south and after the maximum in September – October its area began to decrease. Thus, the seasonal change of the

underlying surface influencing the development of the atmospheric processes began.

In December, zonal atmospheric processes began to prevail again. Their frequency of occurrence was 20 days,

which is by 7 days greater than the multiyear average. The most suppressed was form Ма, and the meridional circulation

form Мв was at the level of mean multiyear values (Table 3.1). Intensity of the general circulation of the atmosphere was

at typically low summer level. Only some active cyclones had a depth lower than 960 hPa.

Similar to November, the area of the decreased atmospheric pressure compared to the multiyear average was

preserved over the Antarctic. The average negative anomaly of the atmospheric pressure over all Antarctic stations was

one of the most significant for the last years (more than 5 hPa).

At the coastal Antarctic stations, the air temperature deviations from mean multiyear values were small and in

some areas, they were around the multiyear average, which is typical of the summer period. The deviations were

predominantly positive (up to 1ᵒС). The most extensive source of insignificant below zero anomalies of air temperature

was formed above the Prydz Bay and at the coast of the Wilkes Land. In the inner regions the air temperature deviations

were small and of different directions. In these regions, the air temperature values continued to increase and were observed

within −30–−35ᵒС and the minimum air temperatures were higher than −45ᵒС.

Above most of the Antarctic regions one observed a typically summer weather: almost complete absence of

storms, appearance of haze and even fog and rain above the Antarctic Peninsula was noted periodically for the whole

month. Only at Dumont D’Urville station, the wind comprised sometimes a speed of 20–30 m/s and on 31 December, a

speed of 37–40 m/s was recorded.

In the middle of December, the spring stratospheric modification began above the South Polar Area, the winter

stratospheric cyclone began to destroy, the wind speeds became weaker and its direction began changing to the east one.

The final modification to the summer stratospheric High took place only in the end of December, which is a late event.

Assessing the year 2017 in general, one can say that the main peculiarity of the atmospheric circulation was

dominance of zonal processes over temperate and high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere (preservation of the tendency

of the last years). This can be well seen from the analysis of the diagram of the frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric

circulation forms in the Southern Hemisphere (Fig. 3.2). The analysis of the atmospheric pressure field makes it possible

to identify two main periods: summer-autumn, when an area of the elevated atmospheric pressure compared with the

multiyear average was formed over the Antarctic and the following it period when an area of negative pressure anomalies

was observed above the South Polar area. The air temperature background in the summer-autumn period and before the

beginning of winter (December – May) was increased in general. The mid-winter (June – September) was colder than

mean multiyear conditions, except for the relatively increased air temperature in July over most of the polar regions. June

was one of the coldest months in East Antarctica for the last decades. In the end of the winter season and transition to

summer (October–December) the air temperature over much of the Antarctic was higher than mean multiyear air

temperature.

Fig. 3.2. Diagram of variations of anomalies of the frequency of occurrence of the atmospheric circulation forms in 2017

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII

Z Ma Mb

55

Among the local peculiarities of thermo-baric fields above the South Polar Area one can note the increased

compared to the other regions frequency of meridional disturbances of the atmospheric circulation above the Pacific Ocean

sector. One can also pay attention to the dominance during the whole year of the above zero air temperature anomalies

over the Antarctic Peninsula.

References:

1. Atlas of the Oceans. The Southern Ocean. GUNiO МО RF, St. Petersburg, 2005;

2. Vangengeim G.Ya. “Bases of the macro-circulation method of long-range meteorological forecasts for the Arctic”.

AARI Proc., 1952, v.34, 314 p.

3. Dydina L.А., Rabtsevich S.V., Ryzhakov L.Yu., Savitsky G.B. “Forms of the atmospheric circulation in the Southern

Hemisphere”. AARI Proc., 1976, v.330, ,p.5-16.

4. http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/cmb.cgi;

5. http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/;

6. https://legacy.bas.ac.uk/met/READER/surface/stationpt.html;

7. http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/ant.html;

8. http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/archive.php?id=ay

http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/cmb.cgi

http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/

https://legacy.bas.ac.uk/met/READER/surface/stationpt.html

http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/ant.html

http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/archive.php?id=ay

56

4. BRIEF REVIEW OF ICE PROCESSES IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN FROM DATA OF

SATELLITE, SHIPBORNE AND COASTAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN

ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN 2017

Throughout the whole year the sea ice extent of the Southern Ocean was much lower than the multiyear average,

approximately by 1 mln km2 in most months. By the end of the summer in February 2017, the ice area decreased to 2.1

mln km2 (Fig. 4.1), and in March, it increased only up to 3.5 mln km2 due to a weak character of the new autumn ice

formation. These are record low values, almost by 30% lower than the multiyear average.

Fig. 4.1. 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 1979–2017 [1].

The main cause is in the extreme two-fold decrease of the Pacific Ocean ice massif compared with a multiyear

average in summer 2017. In late February for the second time over half a century period, ice in the vicinity of Russkaya

station disappeared at 120–160○ W (first — in 2011). The situation of full clearance was preserved here for extremely

long time — until the end of April. Simultaneously a large part of the water area of the Amundsen Sea was ice-cleared.

The landfast ice-iceberg peninsula opposite the Thwaites glacier was partly broken and was reduced by half along 110○

W. Only in the Bellingshausen Sea, the drifting ice belt pressed against the coast was stably preserved, being gradually

extended by the Coastal current westward in the form of a tongue.

The Atlantic massif in the Weddell Sea was also developed in summer slightly less than usually (approximately

by 10%), being elongated in the meridional direction along the entire Antarctic Peninsula and spreading eastward to 35○

W. Nevertheless in the middle of January, one observed a unique situation of short-term intensification of ice export from

the massif “body” to the north along 55○ W with its subsequent transport on 17 January to the west to Bransfield Strait.

On the next day, old ice cake of the Weddell Sea began to be exported to Maxwell Bay and even to Ardley Bay, which

was three months earlier on 18 October 2016 finally ice-cleared. As a result, a band of non-ordinary close ice up to 200 m

wide pressed against the shore was formed at the head of the bay in the middle of summer, which melted however by 27

January.

The marginal seas of the western part of the Indian Ocean sector were distinguished by the decreased sea ice

extent. The Commonwealth Sea was completely ice-cleared. In the Cosmonauts Sea, only narrow belt of drifting ice was

preserved in the coastal zone at the place of the finally broken up landfast ice in February, including fast ice in Lutzow-

Holm Bay. Almost a complete clearance of ice took place in the Lazarev Sea. A relatively early destruction of landfast ice

57

in the area of Novolazarevskaya station contributed to this. It began in Leningradsky Bay as early as in December and was

finished in Belaya Bay in the end of February.

In the seas of the eastern part of the Indian Ocean sector, on the opposite, almost more than by 70% of ice

remained than usually in the form of solid close belt pressed against the coast. No usual break of this belt and connection

with the open ocean of such coastal recurring polynyas as Tryoshnikov Bay and Vincennes Bay were observed. It is not

by chance that numerous large segments of old landfast ice were not subject to breakup. Preservation of an extensive area

of landfast ice on the basis of the Dibble iceberg tongue extending from 135○ to 141○ E determined absence of clearance

of the entire D’Urville Sea, and in particular of the area of the French station Dumont d’Urville. However in the

Commonwealth Bay located to the east, the landfast ice was broken up and exported by the end of February. One should

also note the delayed for half a month breakup of landfast ice at the roadstead of Mirny station (Table 4.1). The unusually

late breakup of landfast ice in the middle of March in the neighboring region of Prydz Bay near Progress station is

obviously connected with the extraordinary situation of blocking of Vostochnaya Bay by numerous icebergs due to

catastrophic calvings of the outlet glacier Dalk in 2016.

The expansion of the ice belt in the Southern Ocean during much of the winter was unusually uniform —

approximately 3 mln km2 each month beginning from 6.8 mln km2 in the end of April up to 13.0 mln km2 in June. In the

middle of April, there was final freeze up of the coastal water area in the areas of Progress and Mirny stations (Table 4.1),

while in the vicinity of the Alexander I Land, on the opposite, complete destruction of the entire old landfast ice took

place.

In May, the predominantly zonal expansion of the Atlantic ice massif reaching 10○ W in the east and 60○ S in the

north was observed. At this, the ice edge in the Lazarev and Riiser-Larsen Seas only approached the 65th parallel, obviously

due to restraining warming impact of the Weddell polynya. At the beginning of the month, the northern bay in the Larsen

Ice Shelf (A) was covered by young fast ice, which in December 2016 was cleared of multiyear fast ice. In the end of May

there was an early final freeze up of Alasheyev Bay, even in spite of a still very narrow belt of drifting ice in the

Cosmonauts Sea. The external northern ice edge over much of the Southern Ocean corresponded to the mean multiyear

location, except for the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas where it was still located much more to the south, near 70○ S.

In June, the record low sea ice extent of the Pacific Ocean sector was preserved. The ice edge here only moved

insignificantly to the north. One should however note the reconstruction in the Amundsen Sea of fast ice-iceberg peninsula

near the Thwaites glacier. In the Atlantic sector the ice edge was stabilized over the entire area around 60○ S. In the Indian

Ocean sector, the ice belt moved to the maximum northward to the Mawson Sea, where the ice edge reached 61○ S.

In July, the sea ice extent of the Southern Ocean increased from 13.0 to 16.3 mln km2. However in August, the

expansion of the ice belt sharply became slower. Its area comprised only 17.6 mln km2. In September, the sea ice extent

did not practically change, as after reaching 18.0 mln km2 by the middle of the month, it began at once to decrease. As a

result, the size of the circumpolar ice belt for the first time in the last 30 years did not exceed 18 mln km2, comprising on

average for September 17.8 mln km2. This is only by 0.1 mln km2 greater than the absolute minimum, which was observed

in 1986.

It is remarkable that in 1986 in the west of the Weddell Sea a large ledge of the Larsen Ice Shelf (C) calved from

its central part between 68○ and 69○ S with formation of a giant iceberg 10090 km in size and the area of about 9 thousand

km2. In 2017, the calving was repeated on 12 July destroying the iceberg segment between 67 and 69 S. The resulting

iceberg А68А 15650 km (5.8 thousand km2) became the largest iceberg of the existing ones nowadays.

The main cause for the decrease of the Antarctic sea ice, which became evident from winter 2015, is obviously

the intensification of the warming effect of the Southern Ocean. In 2017, it was revealed in the anomalously early

development of the Weddell polynya. In the area of the Maud Rise (65○ S, 3○ E), an extensive (almost 2 thousand km2)

open water space appeared inside the ice belt already at the beginning of September. For the month the open water area

increased to 40 thousand km2, and together with the ambient zones of young and open ice the area of the Weddell polynya

reached by the end of September approximately 300 thousand km2.

Not less convincing confirmation of the enhanced oceanic heating is a very “warm” winter in the area of the

South Shetland Islands for the second year in succession. On King George Island in Ardley Bay, the temperature of the

surface layer of the sea in winter 2017 not once dropped below −1.6○С. Stable ice formation occurred on the extremely

late dates in the middle of August (Table 4.1). It was stimulated as usual by the export to Bransfield Strait of ice and cold

shelf waters from the Weddell Sea, but which was late on average by 3 months. With the end of this inflow in the middle

of September, the first complete clearance from ice of Ardley Bay occurred a month earlier than usually. As a result, no

landfast ice was formed here. For half a century operation of Bellingshausen station, this was observed only once in 2004.

The duration of the ice period turned out to be half as large as the multiyear average — only about 2.5 months.

It should be also noted that beginning from winter 2015, the temperature of the sea surface layer in the vicinity

of the Larsemann Hills in Prydz Bay does not drop below −1.8○С at the multiyear average of −1.9○С. However at the

roadstead of Mirny station in Tryoshnikov Bay, the water temperature already from the middle of May comprised less

than −1.9○С, being in the overcooled state less (by −0.02○С). This determined intensive formation of frazil ice up to the

58

end of the year, due to which the thickness of the local landfast ice comprised the maximum values, exceeding the

multiyear average by 20% (Table 4.2).

Table 4.1

Dates of the onset of main ice phases in the areas of the Russian Antarctic stations in 2017

Station Landfast ice breakup Ice clearance Ice formation Landfast ice formation

Freeze up

(water body) Start End First Final First Stable First Stable First Final

Mirny Actual 15.11.16 14.02 05.03 NO1) 08.03 08.03 17.03 24.03 15.04 23.04

(roadstead) Multiyear

avg

23.12 01.02 12.02 NO 11.03 12.03 30.03 02.04 14.04 17.04

Progress Actual 07.01 13.03 NO NO 02.02 20.02 21.02 21.02 14.04 14.04

(Vostochnaya

Bay)

Multiyear

avg

30.12 13.01 NO NO 16.02 17.02 06.03 08.03 26.03 26.03

Bellingshausen Actual - - 20.09 25.10 11.06 14.08 НБ НБ НБ НБ

(Ardley Bay) Multiyear avg

14.09 13.10 21.10 01.11 12.05 06.06 09.06 17.06 05.07 30.06

Note: 1) NO – phenomenon not observed (does not occur)

Table 4.2

Landfast first-year ice thickness and snow depth (in cm) in the areas of the Russian Antarctic stations in 2017

Station Parameters M o n t h s

II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII

Mirny

Ice Actual 16 57 79 105 131 143 162 180 184 180

Multyear

avg

- 22 47 68 84 101 121 139 152 157 145

Snow Actual 0 9 7 12 11 16 25 19 22 14

Multyear

avg

1 10 15 18 18 19 20 20 22 20

Progress

Ice Actual 4 28 44 69 103 117 132 137 151 152 148

Multyear

avg

- 32 54 77 97 117 132 145 155 152 135

Snow Actual 0 1 1 2 18 14 47 12 6 6 2

Multyear

avg

1 4 6 8 5 6 7 7 8 4 3

At the general background of decreased sea ice extent of the Southern Ocean, the traditional opposition of the

Pacific Ocean sector was especially pronounced. Here after the extreme clearance in summer and record low sea ice extent

up to June, the ice belt by the end of winter (in the middle of September 2017) recovered almost completely its size. In the

east of the sector, ice spread even slightly more to the north than usually as a result of development from the beginning of

July of the tongue of ice exported from the region of Marguerite Bay (70○ W) in the direction of the Drake Passage. This

ice reached King George Island only in the middle of September and at once began retreating back to the west.

In the middle of September, in the area of Russkaya station near Cape Burks, the formation of a characteristic

jugged ledge of fast ice began with the top on Aristov shoal, but which then until the end of the year was again completely

destroyed. Simultaneously, there was establishment of landfast ice in the Commonwealth Bay in the D-Urville Sea, but it

lasted only until the end of October. The freeze up of Malygintsev and Milovzorov Bays near the Shackleton Ice Shelf in

the Mawson Sea was not observed at all.

In October, the circumpolar ice belt did not have any changes — its area comprised on average 17.7 mln km2.

The Ross polynya was developed only at the level of near-barrier polynya. The Weddell polynya also stopped externally

its development. However it is in its area that the subsequent rapid melting-disappearance in December of an enormous

ice mass was surreptitiously prepared under the immediate destructive impact from below of the deep oceanic heat

supplemented from the above by the influence of solar radiation.

For November, the sea ice extent of the Southern Ocean decreased up to 13.8, and by the end of December, it

was reduced by half (!) up to 6.9 mln km2, which is less than the multiyear average approximately by 1 mln km2 (10%).

As a result, the water area of the entire eastern part of the Atlantic sector between 10○W, 0○ and 20○E was almost completely

cleared (Fig. 4.2). On the opposite in the Pacific Ocean sector, the sea ice extent was even slightly greater than the

multiyear average (by 3%), mainly due to the decreased development of the Ross polynya. Besides, the massive belt of

drifting ice was densely pressed against the shore in the Bellingshausen Sea for the third year in succession.

59

Fig. 4.2. Ice situation in the Southern Ocean in the middle of December 2017

In the northwest of the Weddell Sea due to intensive ice export eastward from the “body” of the Atlantic massive,

the ice clearance of the South Orkneys Islands was anomalously delayed until the end of the year. Unusually much ice

was also preserved in most marginal seas of the Indian Ocean sector. The only exception was the D’Urville Sea, where by

December the main portion of landfast ice was already destroyed. One should also note the rarely observed easy conditions

for navigation in Malygintsev and Milovzorov Bays near the Shackleton Ice Shelf in the Mawson Sea. In both bays,

recurring polynyas were developed in the absence of landfast ice, and the external belt of drifting ice opposite the polynyas

decreased in width up to 60 miles already by the middle of December and was strongly diverged (Fig. 4.3).

60

Fig. 4.3. Ice situation in the Mawson Sea opposite the Bunger Oasis in the middle of December 2017 on Terra satellite

image

Fig. 4.4. Ice situation at the head of Prydz Bay in the area of Progress station in the middle of December 2017 on Terra

satellite image

61

A directly opposite heavy ice situation was formed by the end of December at the head of Prydz Bay in the area

of Progress station (Fig. 4.4). Local landfast ice by the middle of November grew as usual up to 1.5 m and with the

increasing temperature of sea surface layer from −1.8○ to −1.7○С began slightly melting (Table 4.2). However mean daily

air temperatures in the first part of December became again below zero and melting of landfast ice not only stopped but

even was replaced by its insignificant growth. During this period there was formation of a giant breccia field from the

local massif of continuous drifting ice, which was accumulated near the barrier of the Amery Ice Shelf and along the edge

of the coastal band of landfast ice between 74○ and 76○ E. Before that the earlier drifting ice, moved mainly from east to

west by the Coastal Slope Current although with great difficulty but rounded the protuberant front of the Amery Ice Shelf,

which in the last years especially strongly protruded to the sea. A giant ice breccia field could not overcome it, was stuck

and even was fastened with landfast ice. As a result, there was a double increase of the width of landfast ice in the area of

75○ E (the width is usually about 40 km). This probably made significantly weaker the destructive potential of wave

oscillations of the level in the area of the Larsemann Hills Oasis. The delay with the onset of ice breakup was intensified

by an unusually large thickness of seaward part of landfast ice in the area of 76.5○ E. Ice here was the most level with

prevailing ice hummock and ridge concentration of 0–1 point as compared with the neighboring segments on both sides

with ice hummock and ridge concentration of 3–4 points. However the thickness of this level first-year ice over the first

10 km along the planned transit route of the R/V “Akademik Fedorov" was equal to 170–200 cm at the snow depth on it

up to one meter. Besides, ice was very viscous due to moistening throughout the entire thickness. Therefore one had to

refuse from forcing it and postpone for a month the ship approach to the station.

Similar landfast ice — level, snow-covered up to 100 cm and unusually thick (160–180, in places 200 cm), was

encountered by the R/V “Akademik Fedorov" at the western shore of Breidvika Bay in the Riiser-Larsen Sea in early

December. Given its late formation (in June), achieving such thickness only for half a year is possible only due to intensive

formation of frazil ice, which was really observed in a large quantity in the channel behind the ship.

Thus, in the Southern Ocean during the period 1987–2015 there was a gradual increase of sea ice extent, which

noticeably increased at the beginning of the new millennium. The increase of sea ice extent was accompanied with

worsening of navigation conditions, also due to the delay in the dates of landfast ice breakup. However expansion of sea

ice was not monotonously progressive, but it developed at the background of polycyclic oscillations of sea ice extent.

Moreover one observed in the Pacific Ocean sector in summer the directly opposite advancing processes of clearance, as

a result of which its sea ice extent decreased by half reaching an unusually low level in the summer-autumn period 2017.

Thus the accumulated ice growth in the Southern Ocean only for the last two years was completely eliminated. The average

residual sea ice extent by February 2017 decreased to the record low value of 2.3 mln km2, and in September, it comprised

17.8 mln km2, insignificantly yielding to the minimum of 1986.

References:

1). http://wdc.aari.ru/datasets/ssmi/data/south/extent/.

62

5. RESULTS OF TOTAL OZONE MEASUREMENTS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC

STATIONS IN 2017

In 2017, 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]. One should note absence of data

from Vostok station in the review, connected with malfunction of the instrument. The available results of measurements

of this station require an additional analysis after the return of the expedition.

In the first part of 2017, modification of the circulation processes from the summer type to the winter type

occurred above the Antarctic as is usual at this time of the year. The circumpolar vortex formed in winter reached its

maximum size (almost 31 mln km2) at the beginning of August. This took place earlier than usually and the vortex area

was smaller than its mean maximum value. After this the vortex began slowly to decrease and its complete destruction

was by the middle of December. The meteorological conditions at the level of the ozone layer were sufficiently stable

until the beginning of August, becoming very unstable by the day of the autumn equinox and then returning to the relatively

stable state. The vortex often changed its shape and one observed brief temperature increases (in the end of the first and

third 10-day periods of August, in the middle of September and at the beginning of October). The ozone hole was formed

at the beginning of August in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula, mainly due to the dynamic factors. By the second week

of September, the area of the hole comprised 20 mln km2, which corresponds to the average value for the last decade. As

the hole was becoming more elliptic, its area decreased and by the end of September it comprised only 11 mln km2, which

is much smaller than the size of the holes usually observed at this time of the year. The ozone hole existed until the middle

of November, like in 2016, but it was at this time already much less than in 2016 and, correspondingly less than on average

for the last decade [1-5].

Figure 5.1 presents mean daily values of total ozone, calculated for the entire period of observations and for the

last three Antarctic seasons (from July 2016 to June 2017). Grey color denotes the area covering 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 mean daily TO values).

1 — averaged for the entire observation period mean daily TO values, 2 — mean daily TO values in the season 2017–2018, 3 —

mean daily TO values in the season 2016–2017 , 4 — mean daily TO values in the season 2015-2016

Fig. 5.1. Mean daily total ozone values at the Russian Antarctic Mirny and Novolazarevskaya stations

.

One can get acquainted with a more detailed description of TO change at the Russian stations during the first

three quarters of 2017 in the AARI – RAE Quarterly Bulletins – for 2017 [1]. The total ozone concentration above

Antarctica in the first half of the year was sufficiently stable at its some decrease throughout autumn. In the Antarctic

summer and autumn, the mean monthly values at both stations were higher than in 2016 (Table 5.1, [1]).

In spring of 2017, a significant decrease of total ozone was observed only at Novolazarevskaya station and even

at this station, there were sharp TO fluctuations in September and in October (Fig. 5.1). At Mirny station, the TO

fluctuations from day-to-day were even greater (for example for the period 16 to 21 September, the TO concentration

increased more than 2-fold from 212 Dobson units to 488 Dobson units) and its values in in the spring period are higher

than in 2016. Such TO fluctuations are related to instability of the circumpolar vortex in 2017 and changes of its size and

shape. The mean daily TO values in spring at Novolazarevskaya station changed from 152 DU on 2 October to 387 DU

63

on 26 November. At Mirny station, these fluctuations comprised 488 DU on 21 September to 205 DU on 9 October. The

minimum TO values at both stations were higher than in 2016 [1].

Table 5.1

Statistical characteristics of mean daily TO values (Dobson units) at the Russian Antarctic stations in 2017

January February March April August September October November December

Mirny

Average 319 318 311 295 284 347 319 286 344

σ 20 22 28 35 42 83 77 40 19

Maximum 350 356 369 348 375 488 429 387 370

Minimum 285 280 257 245 217 212 205

(09.10)

231 304

Novolazarevskaya

Average 320 308 284 283 238 211 190 308 334

σ 13 17 19 14 21 34 30 67 20

Maximum 345 330 320 319 274 330 277 387 369

Minimum 296 267 251 261 205 168 152

(02.10)

199 301

The TO measurements were also carried out onboard the R/V “Akademik Fedorov” during her cruises to

Antarctica and back. Figure 5.2 presents the TO values measured onboard the ship and the corresponding coordinates of

the ship. The lowest TO values this year were noted in the end of March when the ship was in the area of Novolazarevskaya

station.

1 — TO, 2- latitude, 3- longitude

Fig. 5.2. Latitudinal variations of total ozone concentration onboard the R/V “Akademik Fedorov”

References: 1. Quarterly Bulletin “State of Antarctic Environment. Operational data of the Russian Antarctic stations”. FSBI AARI,

Russian Antarctic Expedition. 2016–2017, No. 1–4.

2. https://legacy.bas.ac.uk/met/jds/ozone/;

3. http://ozone-watch.gsfc.nasa.gov/;

4. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/;

5.http://www.temis.nl/protocols/o3hole/.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

01.01.2017 03.03.2017 03.05.2017 03.07.2017 02.09.2017 02.11.2017 02.01.2018

Дата

ОСО(е.Д.)

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Градусы

1

2

3

64

6. GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS IN

OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2017

Analysis of geophysical materials of Antarctic stations for the fourth quarter of 2017

Brief characteristics of solar activity

The observation period October to December 2017 is characterized by low solar activity. The values of solar

radio-emission flux F10.7 at the wavelength of 10.7 cm changed within 60–80 W/m2. The maximum number of sun spots

in some groups ranged within 20–30. At the time of the increase of eruptive activity the velocity of high-velocity solar

fluxes was 600 km/s. The perturbations of the structure of the magnetosphere, caused by the passage of high-velocity solar

fluxes and subsequent magnetic storms at the Earth’s surface were weak.

The first group of spots was observed from 10 to 16 October 2017. The magnetic storm caused by this increase

of eruptive activity was not strong and the value of magnetic index Dst = –57. The value of the PC magnetic index was

about 4.

The next group of solar spots was observed from 24 to 27 October. The magnetic storm caused by intensified

solar activity was weak and the value of Dst = −46 and РС ~ 3.

The next increase of solar activity was observed on 9–10 November. The magnetic storm related to intensification

of this group of solar spots was moderate and the value of magnetic index Dst was equal to −75, and the PC index was 5.

One more weak magnetic storm was from 21 to 23 November (Dst = −42, РС = 3).

In December, there were several weak small magnetic storms: on 4–6 December (Dst = −37, РС = 4), on 17–18

December (Dst = −22, РС = 2) and on 25–26 December (Dst = −20, РС = 2). These data indicate that there were two

periods, when the magnetic perturbation was very weak: from 1 to 9 November and in the second part of December 2017.

The amount of energy coming to the magnetosphere from the solar wind is characterized by the РС-index,

developed at the AARI Department of Geophysics and adopted in August 2013 at the 12th 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.

Fig. 6.1. РС-index diagram for the period October to December 2017

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.

Analysis of geomagnetic data

65

Observations of the level of perturbation of the Earth’s Magnetic Field (EMF) in the fourth quarter of 2017 were

carried out at Vostok, Novolazarevskaya, Mirny and Progress stations under a standard program.

During the period of seasonal activities of the 62nd RAE (January 2017), upgrading of the previous geomagnetic

complex at Mirny station was carried out. The SPRL logger was disconnected and the quarz magnetic variation sensor

was connected via the cable communication line to the ADC. The control of ADMVS is made from the PC-recorder using

the Titov software. After disonnection of SPRL, sharp pips of values in the files Lemi-018 stopped. So it can be supposed

that the cause of pips was functioning of unscreened logger plate.

As shown by the data analysis for the fourth quarter of 2017, and a comparison of the results of four quarters of

this year, the quality of absolute observations can be considered good.

The average for the quarter absolute values of the EMF components are calculated from data of 12–17

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.

Table 6.1 Mean annual absolute values of the EMF components in 2017

Station EMF components

D H Z T

Mirny −88.9518 13587.88 −57731.27 59309.05

Novolazarevskaya −29.9123 18565.41 −34276.64 38981.63

Vostok −124.4384 13642.32 −57749.52 59339.21

Progress −79.7683 16994.47 −50918.04 53675.89

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 illumination by UV emission of the

ionosphere at the level of F-layer at Mirny station in Antarctica depended on the Sun’s zenith angle. Therefore there should

have been observed daily variations of critical frequencies of the F2- layer. Regretfully, these values of critical frequencies

of the F2-layer in the daytime and nighttime hours are absent on the diagram for October almost for the whole month,

except for several values in the end of the month. The absence of data for October indicates technical malfunction of the

ionosonde for this period at the Antarctic Mirny station.

It turned out that daily variations in November and December 2017 at Mirny station are weakly discerned. The

difference of daytime and nighttime values of critical frequencies comprises 1 MHz, and sometimes the night values

exceeded the values of foF2 in the daytime. Usually at Mirny station, the critical frequency in the daytime exceeds the

nighttime values by 2 MHz. The low values of critical frequencies at the day side of the Earth were observed at the

beginning of November (3.5–5 MHz) and in the end of December (4–4.2 MHz) 2017. At the beginning of November and

in the end of December, a weak magnetic activity was observed, which was mentioned above. One can suggest that the

structure of the magnetosphere under the conditions of weak magnetic perturbation was such that Mirny station on the day

side of the Earth was in the polar cap under the conditions of weaker ionization and low values of the critical frequencies

of the F2- layer. At the night side of the Earth, Mirny station could be at the boundary of the auroral oval even at low

magnetic activity, where the ionosphere of Mirny station was influenced by corpuscular particles precipitating from the

magnetosphere.

66

Thus, the absence of a clear daily difference in critical values on the day and night side of the Earth can be

explained by a different position of Mirny station in the polar cap area in the daytime and in the area of the auroral oval at

night with different sources of ionization in these areas.

In November and December 2017, the riometric absorption value was less than 1.5 dB, which is characteristic of

the periods of weak magnetic activity. However on the day side of the Earth, the reflections of the radio-signal from the

F-layer were absent in the ionosphere even at the time of insignificant increases of riometric absorption. The absence of

night reflections from the F-area during this period is connected with the increased auroral activity and signal absorption

in the level of sporadic layers in the E-area of the ionosphere.

Thus, the ionosphere data show that the ionosphere processes are closely connected with the magnetic

perturbations occurring in the Earth’s magnetosphere. The absence of data for October indicates technical faults of the

ionosonde at Mirny station at this time. The analysis of performance of the ionosphere station of Mirny station based on

the data obtained, showed that the instruments function without failure. The observations made correspond to the

observation program.

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 0.5 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 10 MeV (in the integral

measurement of F> 10 MeV) make the largest contribution to the absorption; during the analysis such SPE were

considered, which had the maximum intensity of Fmax (Ep> 10 MeV) ≥ 1 particle/cm2 *s *steradian. Exactly at such

intensity the PCA type absorption with the amplitude higher than 0.5 dB begins its manifestation.

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≥20. Exactly at such intensity, the AA type absorptions with the

amplitude higher than 0.5 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.

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.

PCA (absorption of polar cap type) – a phenomenon of anomalous increase of absorption determined by solar

proton fluxes during the SPE.

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 or inaccuracy of plotting the

quiet day curve (QDC).

The Internet data on the fluxes of solar protons (with the energy of 1 – 100 MeV) and on the level of geomagnetic

activity (Кр 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

Several periods of geomagnetic perturbations were registered during the month.

Vostok (32 MHz). Significant increases of absorption are absent during the month.

Mirny (32 MHz). Two periods of absorption increases are registered with the maximums on 14 and 26 October

(amplitudes, Аmax = 1.0 dB and 1.2 dB, respectively), which are determined by fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the

time of the increased level of global and local GA.

67

Progress (32 MHz). During the month one observes three absorption increases with the maximums: on 1, 14 and

25 October (amplitudes, Аmax = 3.4, 3.3, 1.3 dB, respectively), which present the AA phenomena 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 five periods of the increased absorption level with

the maximums: on 1, 15, 19, 21, 26 October (amplitudes ranging Аmax = from 1.0 to 14.0 dB). The increases are the AA

phenomena and are governed by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA

level.

November

Several periods of geomagnetic perturbations were registered during the month.

Vostok (32 MHz). Increases of absorption are absent during the month.

Mirny (32 MHz). During the month the absorption variations at the range of values of 0.3–0.8 dB with periods

of 3–7 days are observed. They are determined by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of the

global and local GA level.

Progress (32 MHz). During the month one observes five absorption increases with the maximums: on 9, 13, 21,

24, 31 November (amplitudes Аmax = 1.6, 0.8, 0.8, 0.9, 0.9 dB, respectively), which are the AA and are determined 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 mainly observed the increased absorption background. At

this background, a series of absorption increases was registered with the maximums on 4, 11, 18, 25 and 31 November

(amplitudes at the range of Аmax = from 1.1 to 2.7 dB). These increases are the AA and are determined by the fluxes of

magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local GA level.

December

During the month one registered three prolonged periods of geomagnetic perturbations: on 4−6 December (РС =

4), on 17−18 December (РС = 2) and on 25−26 December (РС = 2) with the maximums: on 9, 18 and 21 December (the

values of the index Кр = 4+, 30 and 60, respectively).

Vostok (32 MHz). During the month, the significant (more than 0.5 dB) absorption increases are absent.

Mirny (32 MHz). During the month one observes a wave-like change of the absorption level of space rays with

the maximums: on 3, 14, 17 and 27 December (the amplitudes Амax = 0.6, 1.0, 1.3 and 1.2 dB, respectively). These

increases are the AA and are determined 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 periods of increased absorption with the maximums on

1, 7, 17, 26 and 29 December (the amplitudes Аmax = 1.2, 0.9, 1.4, 1.2 and 0.8 dB, respectively), which are the AA. The

periods are determined 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 five periods of increased absorption with the

maximums on 5, 11, 18, 25 and 31 December (the amplitudes Аmax = 2.6, 1.1, 2.4, 1.6, 1.9 dB, respectively). All increases

present the AA and are determined by the fluxes of magnetosphere electrons at the time of the increase of global and local

GA level. The general monthly trend of the absorption change correlates well with the change of the global geomagnetic

activity.

Conclusions

No PCA phenomena were registered during the period under consideration. 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.

68

DATA OF CURRENT OBSERVATIONS

MIRNY STATION

Mean monthly absolute values of the geomagnetic field

Declination Horizontal

component Vertical component

October 89º01.1´W 13587 nT −57749 nT

November 89º02.6´W 13589 nT −57730 nT

December 89º02.5´W 13585 nT −57735 nT

Basis values of IZMIRAN variometer

Date D deg H nT Z nT

04.10.2017 −86.9396 13877.33 −57622.52

09.10.2017 −86.9319 13871.82 −57635.83

18.10.2017 −86.9681 13876.15 −57627.88

23.10.2017 −86.9808 13877.42 −57623.18

28.10.2017 −86.9796 13875.99 −57624.82

01.11.2017 −86.9872 13878.94 −57625.18

05.11.2017 −86.9835 13872.58 −57638.89

14.11.2017 −86.9889 13870.55 −57640.46

20.11.2017 −86.9998 13871.34 −57637.14

27.11.2017 −87.0139 13870.87 −57640.94

02.12.2017 −87.0404 13867.76 −57643.38

09.12.2017 −87.0535 13871.78 −57631.42

14.12.2017 −87.0254 13869.48 −57639.44

20.12.2017 −87.0133 13871.54 −57633.89

23.12.2017 −87.0238 13871.25 −57632.68

30.12.2017 −86.9918 13867.59 −57639.14

Average values −86.9951 13872.65 −57633.55

RMSD 0.0331 3.47 6.95

69

Fig. 6.2. Maximum daily values of space radio-emission absorption at the 32 MHz frequency from data of riometer

observations at Mirny station

70

Fig.6.3. Daily values of critical frequencies of the F2 (f°F2)-layer at Mirny station

71




component

Vertical

component

October 29º59.1´W 18577 nT −34254 nT

November 30º00.5´W 18573 nT −34249 nT

December 30º01.4´W 18561 nT −34245 nT



05.10.2017 −29.9148 18542.84 −34462.48

10.10.2017 −29.9388 18552.14 −34473.49

17.10.2017 −29.9254 18532.41 −34460.51

22.10.2017 −29.931 18543.32 −34476.50

27.10.2017 −29.903 18551.64 −34463.31

05.11.2017 −29.9358 18555.58 −34478.20

11.11.2017 −29.9739 18557.51 −34456.42

17.11.2017 −29.9706 18536.84 −34464.63

23.11.2017 −29.9893 18549.88 −34466.85

29.11.2017 −29.9749 18534.81 −34470.13

03.12.2017 −29.9701 18536.55 −34483.37

08.12.2017 −29.9899 18536.29 −34483.83

14.12.2017 −29.9883 18541.95 −34477.45

23.12.2017 −29.9945 18527.86 −34487.29

28.12.2017 −29.9803 18526.72 −34474.31

Average values −29.9587 18541.76 −34471.92

RMSD 0.0306 9.82 9.35

72


observations at Novolazarevskaya station

73

PROGRESS STATION



component

Vertical

component

October 79º52.0´W 16992 nT −50933 nT

November 79º51.5´W 16990 nT −50916 nT

December 79º48.3´W 16999 nT −50910 nT

Basis values of LEMI-022 variometer


02.10.2017 −78.8636 143.62 −29.61

02.10.2017 −78.8671 143.59 −29.60

04.10.2017 −78.8736 142.90 −29.78

04.10.2017 −78.8730 143.26 −29.86

08.10.2017 −78.8628 143.70 −30.06

16.10.2017 −78.8683 142.74 −30.22

20.10.2017 −78.8659 142.70 −30.53

25.10.2017 −78.8786 142.40 −30.69

27.10.2017 −78.8034 143.51 −31.09

04.11.2017 −78.8555 143.75 −30.26

04.11.2017 −78.8742 141.42 −30.80

06.11.2017 −78.8814 142.72 −32.03

11.11.2017 −78.8742 142.80 −30.84

11.11.2017 −78.8742 142.80 −30.84

17.11.2017 −78.8793 142.53 −31.24

19.11.2017 −78.8896 142.86 −31.10

25.11.2017 −78.8723 142.49 −30.98

25.11.2017 −78.8649 142.64 −30.89

03.12.2017 −78.8740 141.12 −30.68

10.12.2017 −78.8736 141.73 −30.70

14.12.2017 −78.8772 140.75 −31.68

20.12.2017 −78.8735 140.81 −30.60

27.12.2017 −78.8635 139.36 −30.58

28.12.2017 −78.8736 138.54 −31.89

Average values −78.8691 142.28 −30.69

RMSD 0.0157 1.35 0.65

74


observations at Progress station

75

VOSTOK STATION


Declination

Horizontal

component

Vertical

component

October 124º35.3´W 13635 nT −57761 nT

November 124º31.5´W 13665 nT −57711 nT

December 124º29.3´W 13634 nT −57730 nT



25.09.2017 −124.0986 13693.85 −57865.39

04.10.2017 −124.0999 13695.52 −57868.63

10.10.2017 −124.0697 13695.36 −57869.20

18.10.2017 −124.0520 13699.44 −57871.40

27.10.2017 −124.0766 13700.72 −57868.49

31.10.2017 −124.0772 13698.53 −57869.80

06.11.2017 −124.0570 13698.43 −57868.29

19.11.2017 −124.3784 13698.89 −57869.28

30.11.2017 −124.0924 13694.78 −57868.72

03.12.2017 −124.0914 13695.51 −57869.72

10.12.2017 −124.0975 13698.60 −57871.42

16.12.2017 −124.0625 13700.04 −57869.15

21.12.2017 −124.1109 13699.61 −57869.30

31.12.2017 −124.1961 13696.23 −57868.47

Average values −124.1124 13697.82 −57869.37

RMSD 0.0878 2.05 1.02

76


observations at Vostok station

77

7. SEISMIC OBSERVATIONS IN ANTARCTICA IN 2016

In 2016, seismic observations in Antarctica, carried out from 1962, were continued at the stationary

Novolazarevskaya station of the Federal Research Center "Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Science"

(FRC GS RAS).

The observations were carried out by a three-component broadband seismometer SKD in a set with a 16-

charge digital seismic station SDAS, developed and produced in the FRC GS RAS (Obninsk) jointly with the

Scientific-Production Association "Geotekh”/ [1]. These instruments with the bandwidth of 0.04–5 Hz, sampling rate

of 20 readouts a second and dynamic range of about 90 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 the FRC GS RAS.

Processing of digital records of earthquakes at Novolazarevskaya station was carried out on computer by

means of the WSG software, developed at the FRC GS RAS [3], in accordance with the methodology [4] 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 the FRC GS RAS. These data were used

for summary processing of earthquakes in preparation of 10-day Seismological Bulletins of the FRC GS RAS [5].

From 1 January to 31 December 2016, Novolazarevskaya station registered 3447 arrivals of seismic events.

Full processing was performed with determination of the main source parameters for 745 earthquakes. Data of

Novolazarevskaya station were used at the IPC of the FRC GS RAS in 2016 for summary processing of 478

earthquakes, of them 80 — with the magnitude MPSP 6.0, including 17 — with MPSP 6.5 (Table 7.1).

Table 7.1 presents main parameters of strong earthquakes in 2016, based on the data of Seismological

Bulletins of the FRC GS RAS [5] and it is shown, which of them were registered at Novolazarevskaya station.

Table 7.1

Earthquakes with a magnitude MPSP 6.0, registered at Novolazarevskaya station from 01.01 to 31.12.2016

No. Date

dd.mm

Time at the

source

(by

Greenwich)

hh:mm:ss

Epicenter

coordinates

Depth

h, km MPSP Region Epicentral distance

to station NVL (,

)

1 01.01 02:00:39.1 −50.477 139.588 12 6.0 West Indian-Antarctic Ridge − 2)

2 03.01 23:05:19.0 24.816 93.650 48 7.0 Myanmar – India border area + 3)

3 11.01 16:38:06.3 3.804 126.807 29 6.3 Talaud Islands, Indonesia 101.64)

4 12.01 09:45:09.5 −31.331 58.272 12 6.0 Southwest Indian Ridge 46.9

5 14.01 03:25:32.1 42.012 142.732 57 6.9 Hokkaido region, Japan 142.3

6 20.01 17:13:12.1 37.694 101.659 14 6.2 Qinghai, China 125.0

7 21.01 18:06:56.1 18.828 −106.943 14 6.0 Near the coast of Jalisco, Mexico +

8 24.01 10:30:28.1 59.762 −153.518 124 6.5 South Alaska 167.4

9 25.01 00:00:07.3 −19.394 −173.589 33 6.0 Tonga Islands −

10 25.01 04:22:00.1 35.607 −3.637 14 6.2 Strait of Gibraltar +

11 26.01 03:10:19.8 −5.204 153.203 30 6.3 Region of New Ireland, P.N.G. 100.0

12 30.01 03:25:09.0 53.931 158.551 171 6.8 East coast of Kamchatka +

13 05.02 19:57:26.0 22.885 120.633 27 6.3 Taiwan 117.6

14 08.02 16:19:12.2 −6.426 154.607 34 6.4 Solomon Islands 99.1

15 10.02 00:33:03.2 −30.516 −71.422 21 6.0 Coast of Central Chile 59.3

16 12.02 10:02:26.9 −9.261 119.307 27 6.6 Sumba region, Indonesia +

17 18.02 01:07:11.7 −56.245 −27.595 113 6.0 Region of the South Sandwich Islands 22.2

18 21.02 21:26:40.1 24.541 142.229 21 6.0 Region of Volcano Islands, Japan +

19 02.03 12:49:46.2 −4.777 94.258 23 7.1 Southwest of Sumatra, Indonesia 83.0

20 12.03 18:06:42.4 51.572 −173.903 16 6.0 Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands +

21 19.03 01:35:11.2 51.519 −174.205 27 6.1 Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands +

22 19.03 11:26:31.4 17.972 −60.697 32 6.0 Windward Islands 101.2

23 20.03 22:50:20.7 54.231 162.819 54 6.6 East coast of Kamchatka 159.1

24 27.03 18:01:29.4 52.270 −168.766 16 6.0 Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands −

25 01.04 02:39:07.0 33.422 136.270 19 6.1 South coast of West Honshu +

26 03.04 08:23:51.6 −14.226 166.769 37 6.6 Vanuatu Islands +

27 06.04 06:58:46.6 −14.048 166.555 33 6.5 Vanuatu Islands +

28 06.04 14:45:27.9 −7.688 107.585 28 6.1 Java, Indonesia +

29 07.04 03:32:48.6 −13.917 166.620 15 6.2 Vanuatu Islands +

30 10.04 02:14:34.5 −4.005 102.321 60 6.3 South Sumatra, Indonesia +

78

No. Date

dd.mm

Time at the

source

(by

Greenwich)

hh:mm:ss

Epicenter

coordinates

Depth


to station NVL (,

)

31 10.04 10:28:56.8 36.472 71.186 212 6.4 Afghanistan – Tajikistan border area +

32 13.04 13:55:17.6 23.033 94.957 159 7.0 Myanmar – India border area −

33 14.04 12:26:33.4 32.720 130.700 13 6.0 Kyushu, Japan −

34 15.04 14:11:25.5 13.432 −92.299 28 6.0 Near the coast of Chiapas, Mexico −

35 15.04 16:25:05.1 32.699 130.663 21 6.5 Kyushu, Japan −

36 15.04 16:45:54.7 32.862 130.843 14 6.0 Kyushu, Japan −

37 16.04 23:58:34.5 0.379 −80.032 21 6.9 Coast of Ecuador 91.0

38 18.04 13:06:11.8 −19.482 169.049 98 6.3 Vanuatu Islands 88.6

39 28.04 19:33:23.5 −15.998 167.398 33 6.8 Java, Indonesia +

40 18.05 07:57:02.2 0.400 −79.906 31 6.4 Coast of Ecuador 91.0

41 18.05 16:46:44.2 0.521 −79.742 48 6.3 Coast of Ecuador 91.0

42 20.05 18:14:04.1 −25.502 129.917 10 6.2 Northern Territory, Australia 74.8

43 28.05 05:38:50.2 −21.872 −178.275 411 6.4 Region of Fiji Islands +

44 28.05 09:46:58.1 −56.226 −26.878 75 6.9 Region of South Sandwich Islands +

45 30.05 07:14:17.8 −30.148 −178.138 52 6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand +

46 01.06 22:55:57.8 −2.034 100.758 43 6.6 South Sumatra, Indonesia 87.7

47 05.06 16:25:31.2 −4.528 125.619 425 6.3 Banda Sea 93.4

48 06.06 02:35:30.9 −29.976 −177.890 46 6.2 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 79.3

49 07.06 10:51:36.7 18.387 −105.160 19 6.1 Near the coast of Jalisco, Mexico 116.0

50 07.06 19:15:14.4 1.339 126.249 40 6.7 North of the Molucca Sea 99.1

51 09.06 04:13:08.2 −11.089 116.325 32 6.2 South of Sumbawa, Indonesia 84.3

52 10.06 03:25:22.1 12.841 −86.969 23 6.0 Nicaragua +

53 10.06 04:17:43.6 −8.658 160.404 34 6.0 Solomon Islands 98.0

54 26.06 11:17:08.8 39.447 73.464 11 6.4 Tajikistan – Xinjiang border area 118.4

55 26.06 22:57:06.1 37.170 142.226 21 6.0 Near the east coast of Honshu, Japan +

56 30.06 11:30:34.7 −15.970 167.489 58 6.1 Java, Indonesia 91.9

57 11.07 02:11:03.9 0.549 −79.852 30 6.1 Coast of Ecuador 91.1

58 13.07 12:11:13.3 −28.014 −176.606 24 6.2 Region of Kermadec Islands 81.3

59 20.07 15:13:15.8 −18.927 169.028 176 6.1 Vanuatu Islands 89.1

60 26.07 08:04:18.4 −15.899 167.432 33 6.3 Vanuatu Islands 91.9

61 29.07 21:18:24.2 18.555 145.461 220 7.0 Mariana Islands 121.0

62 31.07 11:33:19.5 −56.248 −27.497 102 6.0 Region of South Sandwich Islands 22.2

63 01.08 07:42:48.6 −23.878 82.627 10 6.1 South of the Indian Ocean 61.3

64 04.08 16:24:34.1 24.909 141.995 538 6.2 Region of Volcano Islands, Japan 126.1

65 12.08 01:26:35.8 −22.550 173.020 27 6.4 Southeast of Loyalty Islands 86.0

66 19.08 07:32:21.6 −55.322 −31.866 13 6.8 Region of South Georgia 24.3

67 21.08 03:45:23.1 −55.327 −31.756 16 6.3 Region of South Georgia 24.3

68 24.08 01:36:31.7 42.792 13.193 7 6.1 Central Italy +

69 24.08 10:34:55.1 20.977 94.660 112 6.4 Myanmar +

70 24.08 13:48:44.1 −2.797 100.327 21 6.0 South Sumatra, Indonesia 86.9

71 29.08 04:29:55.7 −0.012 −17.794 10 6.4 North of Ascension Island −

72 31.08 03:11:34.6 −3.616 152.761 500 6.1 New Ireland Region, P.N.G. 101.4

73 01.09 16:38:00.2 −36.911 178.707 28 6.7 Near the east coast of North Island, N.Z 72.2

74 01.09 20:04:15.0 0.573 98.596 35 6.1 North Sumatra, Indonesia 89.5

75 04.09 02:38:09.5 8.481 125.909 13 6.0 Mindanao, Philippines +

76 10.09 10:08:18.1 −5.593 −77.015 117 6.1 North Peru 84.4

77 17.09 02:31:58.9 −15.958 167.467 55 6.1 Vanuatu Islands 91.9

78 20.09 16:21:15.4 30.476 142.102 16 6.2 Southeast of Honshu, Japan 131.4

79 23.09 00:14:34.1 34.462 141.517 23 6.1 Near the east coast of Honshu, Japan 134.9

80 23.09 22:53:06.7 6.567 126.479 54 6.1 Mindanao, Philippines +

81 24.09 21:28:40.7 −19.755 −178.291 601 6.3 Area of Fiji Islands 89.4

82 26.09 05:19:56.3 27.519 128.497 42 6.2 Ryukyu Islands, Japan 124.5

83 06.10 15:51:56.6 22.520 121.393 10 6.1 Taiwan region 117.5

84 15.10 08:03:37.3 −4.234 150.401 452 6.2 New Britain region, P.N.G. 100.3

85 17.10 06:14:57.0 −5.996 148.764 53 6.4 New Britain region, P.N.G. 98.2

86 17.10 07:14:48.9 32.869 94.882 40 6.2 Tibet 118.5

87 19.10 00:25:59.4 −4.860 108.197 618 6.2 Java Sea 87.6

88 21.10 05:07:23.1 35.404 133.664 21 6.0 West Honshu, Japan 133.4

89 23.10 20:25:26.0 44.046 148.109 42 6.0 Kuril Islands 145.7

90 26.10 14:15:36.3 39.583 54.574 10 6.0 Turkmenistan −

91 26.10 19:18:07.8 43.013 13.102 18 6.2 Central Italy +

92 27.10 08:17:44.6 1.452 125.581 33 6.1 Molucca Sea 99.0

79

No. Date

dd.mm

Time at the

source

(by

Greenwich)

hh:mm:ss

Epicenter

coordinates

Depth


to station NVL (,

)

93 28.10 05:26:54.0 −4.620 153.161 44 6.2 New Ireland Region, P.N.G. −

94 30.10 06:40:18.0 42.948 13.140 13 6.3 Central Italy +

95 04.11 16:20:44.7 −35.005 −70.920 89 6.1 Chile – Argentina border area 55.0

96 13.11 11:02:57.1 −42.817 172.731 14 6.8 South Island, New Zealand 65.9

97 13.11 11:32:06.0 −42.123 173.429 13 6.2 South Island, New Zealand +

98 13.11 14:00:59.7 −28.869 −67.537 107 6.1 La Rioja Province, Argentina 59.6

99 14.11 00:34:22.2 −42.543 172.990 12 6.1 South Island, New Zealand 66.2

100 16.11 00:30:28.3 −20.221 −173.163 18 6.0 Tonga Islands +

101 16.11 15:10:12.2 −8.889 113.175 112 6.0 Java, Indonesia +

102 20.11 20:57:43.1 −31.513 −68.583 105 6.4 San Juan Province, Argentina 57.5

103 21.11 20:59:46.9 37.336 141.349 13 6.6 East coast of Honshu, Japan 137.6

104 24.11 18:43:46.7 11.975 −88.880 14 6.6 Near the coast of Central America 104.8

105 25.11 14:24:27.8 39.011 73.970 14 6.5 Tajikistan – Xinjiang border area 118.3

106 03.12 09:23:35.1 52.307 174.235 43 6.3 Near Islands, Aleutian Islands 159.8

107 05.12 01:13:03.7 −7.299 123.399 527 6.0 Banda Sea 90.1

108 06.12 21:42:19.9 11.159 −61.145 37 6.0 Leeward Islands 95.0

109 06.12 22:03:30.6 5.163 95.972 12 6.3 North Sumatra, Indonesia 92.9

110 08.12 05:15:02.2 43.759 86.306 16 6.0 North Xinjiang, China 125.9

111 08.12 14:49:45.1 40.426 −126.174 10 6.1 Near the coast of North California 142.9

112 08.12 17:38:43.8 −10.604 161.228 37 7.3 Solomon Islands 96.2

113 17.12 10:51:09.2 −4.429 153.451 96 6.3 New Ireland region, P.N.G. 100.8

114 17.12 11:27:38.1 −5.618 153.960 38 6.2 New Ireland region, P.N.G. −

115 18.12 05:46:25.1 −10.203 161.142 59 6.4 Solomon Islands 96.6

116 18.12 13:30:09.9 −9.866 −71.080 613 6.1 Peru – Brasilia border area 78.4

117 20.12 04:21:27.8 −10.092 161.127 25 6.1 Solomon Islands 96.7

118 21.12 00:17:13.4 −7.415 127.833 151 6.2 Banda Sea 91.3

119 21.12 16:43:56.7 21.433 145.322 22 6.4 Region of Mariana Islands 123.7

120 24.12 03:58:53.9 −5.091 153.464 40 6.0 New Ireland region, P.N.G. +

121 25.12 14:22:27.2 −43.281 −73.946 44 6.6 South Chile 48.5

122 28.12 12:38:49.6 36.939 140.355 18 6.0 East coast of Honshu, Japan 136.9

123 29.12 22:30:17.7 −8.802 118.633 83 6.7 Sumbawa region, Indonesia 87.2

Total registered earthquakes with MPSP6.0 111

Total earthquakes participating in summary processing with MPSP6.0 80

Notes: 1) MPSP magnitude − characteristic of the earthquake force, which is calculated from measurements of amplitudes and periods in

the maximum phase of the longitudinal Р wave on the records of short period instruments (SP – short period) and corresponds to

the international magnitude mb; 2) “−“ − results of processing of the given earthquake are absent in the station log; 3) “+”− results of processing of the given earthquake are present in the station log, they are not included to the summary processing

due to different reasons; 4) 101.6 (Epicentral distance in degrees) – shown for parameters of the sources, in the summary processing of which this station

participated. 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, South Shetland Islands, Solomon Islands,

Santa-Cruz Islands and 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. 7.1а) these data were adopted from the Seismological Bulletin [5] and the Electronic

Catalogues of the IDC (International Data Centre — Vienna, Austria) and NEIC (National Earthquake Information

Center, USA Geological Survey), from the site of the International Seismological Center ISC (Great Britain) [7]. The

analogues in the indicated sources were not found for all seismic events in the station log at [5, 7] and therefore, the

epicenters of only 1023 earthquakes with mb4.6 were mapped.

According to data [7], two earthquakes occurred in the continental part of Antarctica in 2016 (they are

denoted by arrows in Fig. 7.1 b): on 4 September at 16h25m at Sovetskoye Plateau (coordinates: 80.04 S, 42.59 E)

with mb=4.6 and on 21 January at 02h49m in the area of the Nimrod Glacier (80.72 S, 152.38 E) with mb=3.4. Two

weak earthquakes were noted at the coast of McMurdo Bay: with mb=3.2 on 6 December at 12h22m (75.38 S,

160.70 E) and with mb=3.5 on 1 November at 03h02m (71.81 S, 169.12 E, area of Cape Ader). The registration

capacities of Novolazarevskaya station did not allow registration of these earthquakes (=11.8−36.7).

80

a)

6.6−7.3

5.6−6.5

4.6−5.5

2

b)

1

1 — magnitude of MPSP (mb); 2 — seismic station. Arrows show the epicenters of earthquakes in the territory of Antarctica

from data in [7].

Fig. 7.1 Charts of the epicenters of earthquakes, recorded by Novolazarevskaya station in 2016 on the Earth (a) and

in the area of the seismic belt of Antarctica (b) [6] from data in [5, 7].

All observation materials (compact disks) and the results of processing the data (reports and databases)

obtained at Novolazarevskaya station are stored in the archive of the FRC GS RAS (Obninsk) and are provided on

request to a wide range of users.

The authors acknowledge the help of the staff of the FRC GS RAS Dr. V.F.Babkina and Dr. O.P. Kamenskaya

in preparation of the materials to the article.

81

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

01.700.12.0094 of 01.10.2004. – Obninsk: Archives of the GS RAS, 2004. — P. 77.

2. Report of the FRC GS RAS for 2016 on the topic NIR No. 0152-2015-0003 “Continuous seismological, geophysical

and geodynamic monitoring at the global, federal and regional levels,, development and introduction of new

technologies of processing and systems analysis of large volumes of seismological and geophysical data” (Head –

Corresponding member of RAS А.А. Malovichko). – Obninsk: Archives of FRC GS RAS, 2017. — 181 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 international seismological school. – Obninsk: GS RAS, 2006. – P. 77–83.

4. Gabsatarova I.P., Poigina S.G. Scenario of daily processing of a three-component record of one station by the WSG

software v 5.516 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 2004) / Edited by

D.Yu. Mekhryushev. – Obninsk: Archives of GS RAH, 2005.

5. Seismological Bulletin (published every 10 days) for January–December 2016 — Obninsk: the FRC GS RAS,

2016−2017.

6. Gutenberg B. and Rikhter Ch. The Earth’s seismicity. – М.: Foreign literature, 1948. – 160 p.

7. International Seismological Centre (ISC) [сайт]. On-line Bulletin. — URL:

http://www.isc.ac.uk/iscbulletin/search/bulletin/. −Thatcham, United Kingdom: ISC, 2016−2017.

82

8. MAIN RAE EVENTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2017

13.10

The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” began loading operations in the port of St. Petersburg in connection with

preparation for the ship departure under the program of the 63rd seasonal RAE.

20.10

First participant of the RAE seasonal expedition departed from St. Petersburg by a regular flight to Cape

Town for further flight to Novolazarevskaya station and participation in the seasonal work in the “Tawany”

group at Lake Untersee in the mountain massif Wohlthat.

22.10

Flight of the second group of participants of the 63rd seasonal RAE by regular airplanes to Cape Town was

made. It consisted of 12 specialists of STT of Progress station and 4 specialists of the airfield group of the

wintering team of Novolazarevskaya station.

24.10

Airplane Il-76 TD-90VD of the air company “Volgo-Dnepr” departed from Ulyanovsk for making flights

Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station – Cape Town under the seasonal international program of

DROMLAN countries-participants.

25.10

Arrival of airplane Il-76 TD-90VD to Cape Town. The prohibition of RF Mintrans for making passenger

flights by the air company “Volgo-Dnepr” was received. The decision was made to perform only transport

flights to the Antarctic.

26.10

The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” departed the port of St. Petersburg. A total of 1611 t of cargo was loaded

onboard, including 1300 t of diesel fuel, 200 t of aviation kerosene, 15.8 t of aviation gasoil, technical oils,

gases and 40 t of food products. On board the ship there are 92 participants of the expedition, including 58

people from the team of the wintering expedition and 34 — from the team of the seasonal expedition.

27.10

The flight D-1 of the airplane Il-76 TD-90VD along the route Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station – Cape

Town was made. Onboard there are technical personnel of the air company, of RAE and the air operator

(ALCI). The first landing in this season on the airstrip of Novolazarevskaya station was successful. By return

flight, 3 sick polar explorers from Maitri station (India) were transported.

31.10

Airplane BT-67 and aircraft Twin-Otter landed on the runway of Novolazarevskaya station for carrying out

work under the DROMLAN Program with basing on the airfield of the station during the seasonal period.

Crew members and 2 ill polar explorers from Neumayer station arrived.

31.10-03.11

The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” stayed in the port of Bremerhaven. Two helicopters KA-32 of the air company

“Avialift-Vladivostok” arrived to onboard the ship.

01 – 02.11

The flight D-2 of airplane Il-76 TD-90VD along the route Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station – Cape

Town was made. The airplane delivered to the Antarctic 14 people of the 63rd RAE team. Two persons of the

German Antarctic Expedition were delivered to Cape Town.

08.11

At Mirny station, the work on renovating the graves at the memorial cemetery on Buromsky Island was

finished.

09.11

Airplane BT-67-601 “Snow eagle” of the Antarctic Program of China landed on the runway of Progress

station for performing work with permanent basing at the station runway during the seasonal period.

11.11

83

From the runway of Novolazarevskaya station, the transport traverse of the “Tawany” group departed to the

area of Lake Untersee consisting of: Andersen Dale (USA), Stoel Elliot (Austria), Lacele Denis (Canada),

Marsh Nicole (Canada), V.Shamilishvili (SPbGU).

13.11

From the runway of Novolazarevskaya station, airplane BT-67 departed along the route Novolazarevskaya

station – Syowa station – Progress station. Onboard aircraft – seasonal transport team of the 63rd RAE

consisting of 9 people and 4 specialists of Bharati station (India).

From Cape Town to Novolazarevskaya station, the flight of D-3 airplane Il-76 TD-90VD was made.

Participants of the expeditions of Belgium, Switzerland, France, Italy, Canada, Argentina, Norway and India

and a parachute group from Russia were delivered to the Antarctic.

15.11

In the medical unit of Novolazarevskaya station, in spite of all efforts of medical personnel, the ALCI

Company specialist Sporish A.N. (RF citizen) who arrived to the Antarctic on 13 November died a sudden

death.

17.11

The next flight of the airplane Il-76 TD-90VD to Novolazarevskaya station was carried out. Onboard the

airplane, participants of the expeditions from Finland, India and SAR arrived to the Antarctic

20.11

A glaciologist of the seasonal 63rd RAE team arrived to Bellingshausen station from Punta Arenas (Chile)

onboard the Brazilian Air Force aircraft.

21.11

From Progress station to Vostok station the sledge-tractor traverse (STT) departed consisting of 7 transporters

and 14 participants. The Head of traverse is S.Yu. Zykov. Traverse load is 3 living modules, 11 tanks on

sledges, 176 cu. m of diesel fuel, 45 barrels of avia-kerosene and 350 kg of technical oils.

22.11

The next flight of airplane Il-76 TD-90VD along the route Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station – Cape

Town was made. Personnel of the expeditions of Belgium and Norway were delivered to the Antarctic. The

sick person of the 63rd RAE from Novolazarevskaya station accompanied by a doctor was transported to Cape

Town.

24-30.11

Stay of the R/V “Akademik Fedorov” in the port of Cape Town. Thirty two participants of the 63rd RAE and

four specialists of the Belarus’ Antarctic Expedition (BAE) arrived to onboard the ship. By 28 November,

the repairs at the main power plant of the ship were completed. The cargo for Perseus Base (ALCI-Belgium)

was delivered to onboard the ship.

26.11

From Cape Town, the next flight of airplane Il-76 TD-90VD with cargo for Vostok and Novolazarevskaya

stations (Roskosmos) was made. Onboard the airplane, the expedition participants accompanying the cargo

from Russia and Belgium and India arrived to the Antarctic.

27.11

The first flight of airplane Boeing-757 along the route Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station – Cape Town

was made. The airplane delivered 49 people to the Antarctic from the expeditions of Germany, Great Britain

and India and 2 participants of RAE.

The flight of airplane Il-76 TD-90VD from the runway of Novolazarevskaya station to the point FD-83 (83°S,

10° E) was made with the aim of paradropping fuel barrels.

02.12

The next flight of airplane Boeing-757 was made along the route Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station –

Cape Town. Onboard the airplane, 37 people arrived to the Antarctic, including participants of the expeditions

of India, RSA, Great Britain, Iran, Italy and 8 specialists of the 63rd RAE.

04.12

Arrival of STT-1 to Vostok station, the loading-unloading operations and cleaning of the station from snow

using traverse vehicles began.

84

05.12

From the runway of Novolazarevskaya station to the runway of the seasonal base Molodezhnaya, a group of

BAE of 4 people was delivered by airplane Twin-Otter. The BAE personnel reactivated the base “Mount

Vechernyaya” (BAE).

06.12

Departure of STT-1 from Vostok station to Progress station. The traverse consists of 6 tractor units, 14 people

and cargo — waste to be transported from the Antarctic.

08-11.12

The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” carried out work to deliver cargo to the area of the seasonal base of Belgium

Princess Elisabeth — Perseus.

10.12

The next flight of aircraft Boeing-757 was made by the route Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station – Cape

Town. Forty four participants of the expeditions of Great Britain and Germany arrived to the Antarctic.

Participants of the expeditions of Germany, Belgium, Finland, India, the USA and Russia (1 person of the

seasonal team) were delivered to Cape Town.

13-15.12

The flight of aircraft BT-67 along the route Novolazarevskaya station – Perseus – Progress station– Vostok

station and back was made. Eight participants of RAE glacial-drilling team of the 63rd RAE were delivered.

15.12

STT-1 arrived to Progress station.

The R/V “Akademik Aleksandr Karpinsky” of the JSC PMGRE departed St. Petersburg under the program

of the 63rd RAE heading to the port of Kiel and then to the port of Montevideo and then to the northwestern

part of the Weddell Sea.

16.12

The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” entered the fast ice massif in 70 km from Molodezhnaya base. At this distance

from the base, flights of helicopters began for provision of seasonal operations. Eleven participants of the

63rd RAE were delivered to Molodezhnaya. The Head of the station is Serov L.

18.12

Upon the end of the work in the area of the seasonal Molodezhnaya base and the BAE field base “Mountain

Vechernyaya”, the R/V “Akademik Fedorov” headed for Progress station.

The next flight of aircraft Boing-757 at the route Cape Town – Novolazarevskaya station – Cape Town was

made. Forty six people were delivered to the Antarctic, including participants of the expeditions of Germany,

Belgium, Finland and RAE (8 people of the seasonal team of the 63rd RAE, Novolazarevskaya station). To

Cape Town, 37 people were transported (participants of foreign expeditions).

20.12

From Progress station the first Russian-Chinese scientific transport traverse departed under the program of

joint studies of blue ice sites. Seven specialists of the Chinese station Zhong-Shan on three caterpillar

transporters and four RAE specialists on one caterpillar transporter participated in the traverse.

22-23.12

The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” at a distance of 38 km from Progress station entered the fast ice massif. Flights

of helicopters were started. All participants of the wintering team of the 63rd RAE of Progress and Vostok

stations and specialists of the seasonal team were delivered to Progress station. By return flights from the

station, equipment of the former seasonal camps of PMGRE in the area of Progress station and the seasonal

Base Druzhnaya-4 were transported to onboard the ship.

24-29.12

From board the R/V “Akademik Fedorov” which was at a distance of 38 km from Progress station, the

delivery of cargos for Progress and Vostok station was continued. At the same time from board the R/V and

at Progress station, work under the seasonal programs was carried out, including programs in geodesy,

ecology and ozone observations. Sampling and work under the programs in cryo- and hydrobiology,

hydrochemistry of lakes, microbiology, glaciology and permafrost research was made at the station. From

board the ship, sampling of benthos and plankton was carried out. Equipment for the base “Banger Oasis”

was delivered to onboard the ship.

85

29.12

The R/V “Akademik Fedorov” departed the area of Progress station heading for Mirny station.

federal state budgetary institution “arctic and antarctic

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