The Performance of Downward Shortwave Radiation Products from Satellite and Reanalysis over the Transect of Zhongshan Station to Dome A, East Antarctica

The downward shortwave radiation(DSR) is an important part of the Earth's energy balance, driving Earth's system's energy, water, and carbon cycles. Due to the harsh Antarctic environment, the accuracy of DSR derived from satellite and reanalysis has not been systematically evaluated over the transect of Zhongshan station to Dome A, East Antarctica.Therefore, this study aims to evaluate DSR reanalysis products(ERA5-Land, ERA5, MERRA-2) and satellite products(CERES and ICDR) in this area. The results indicate that DSR exhibits obvious monthly and seasonal variations, with higher values in summer than in winter. The ERA5-Land(ICDR) DSR product demonstrated the highest(lowest) accuracy,as evidenced by a correlation coefficient of 0.988(0.918), a root-mean-square error of 23.919(69.383) W m^(–2), a mean bias of –1.667(–28.223) W m^(–2) and a mean absolute error of 13.37(58.99) W m^(–2). The RMSE values for the ERA5-Land reanalysis product at seven stations, namely Zhongshan, Panda 100, Panda 300, Panda 400, Taishan, Panda 1100, and Kunlun, were 30.938, 29.447, 34.507, 29.110, 20.339, 17.267, and 14.700 W m^(-2), respectively;with corresponding bias values of 9.887, –12.159, –19.181, –15.519, –8.118, 6.297, and 3.482 W m^(–2). Regarding seasonality, ERA5-Land, ERA5,and MERRA-2 reanalysis products demonstrate higher accuracies during spring and summer, while ICDR products are least accurate in autumn. Cloud cover, water vapor, total ozone, and severe weather are the main factors affecting DSR. The error of DSR products is greatest in coastal areas(particularly at the Zhongshan station) and decreases towards the inland areas of Antarctica.

Internal layering structure and subglacial conditions along a traverse line from Zhongshan Station to Dome A,East Antarctica,revealed by ground-based radar sounding

During the 21st Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition(CHINARE 21,2004/05),a radar dataset was collected using a ground-based radar system,along a traverse line from Zhongshan Station to DT401(130 km from the Kunlun station).The internal layering structure and subglacial conditions were revealed along the radar profi le.Continuous internal layers,disturbed layers,and echo-free zones(EFZs)along the profi le were identifi ed and classifi ed,and the spatial distribution was presented.Based on recent surface ice velocity data,we found that the internal layers at a depth of 200-300 m in the upper ice sheet are continuous,smooth,and nearly parallel to the ice surface topography.In addition,the thick band of continuous layers changes little with increasing latitude.At depths below 300 m,the geometric structure of the internal layers and the vertical width of the EFZ band are infl uenced by the surface ice velocity and bed topography.The relatively high disturbance,layer discontinuity,and larger EFZ band width directly correspond to a higher surface ice velocity and a sharper bed topography.In particular,we found that at a depth of 650-950 km,the Lambert Glacier Rift in the Gamburtsev Mountains has a higher ice fl ow;moreover,the revealed internal layers are disturbed or broken,and the maximal vertical width of the EFZ band most likely exceeds 2000 m.

Structure and seasonal changes in atmospheric boundary layer on coast of the east Antarctic continent

The temperature, humidity, and vertical distribution of ozone in the Antarctic atmospheric boundary layer（ABL） and their seasonal changes are analyzed, by using the high-resolution profile data obtained during the International Polar Year 2008 to 2009 at Zhongshan Station, to further the understanding of the structure and processes of the ABL. The results show that the fre- quency of the convective boundary layer in the warm season accounts for 84% of its annual occurrence frequency. The frequency of the stable boundary layer in the cold season accounts for 71% of its annual occurrence frequency. A neutral boundary layer ap- pears rarely. The average altitude of the convective boundary layer determined by the parcel method is 600 m; this is 200 to 300 m higher than that over inland Antarctica. The average altitude of the top of the boundary layer determined by the potential tempera- ture gradient and humidity gradient is 1 200 m in the warm season and 1 500 m in the cold season. The vertical structures of ozone and specific humidity in the ABL exhibit obvious seasonal changes. The specific humidity is very high with greater vertical gradi- ent in the warm season and very low with a lesser gradient in the cold season under 2 000 m. The atmospheric ozone in the ABL is consumed by photochemical processes in the warm season, which results in a slight difference in altitude. The sub-highest ozone center is located in the boundary layer, indicating that the ozone transferred from the stratosphere to the troposphere reaches the low boundary layer during October and November in Antarctica.

Genesis and Distribution of Ultra-alkaline Magmatism within the East Antarctic Associated with the Kerguelen Plume Activity

Alkaline magmatism is often associated with the initial or final stages of huge plume activity.The alkaline bodies are most often found within the boundary area of plume impact upon the continents.The initial stages of the

A note on crustal structure between Antarctic Peninsula and East Antarctic craton across the shelf of southern Weddell Sea

Analysis of gravity data based on the Airy isostasy, magnetic depth estimates and few seismic refraction data taken together indicates a thinning of the crust between the Antarctic Peninsula and the East Antarctic craton below the Filchner and Ronne ice shelves.

Structure of the internal isochronous layers at Dome A,East Antarctica

Dome A (Kunlun Station) is considered a likely place for finding an ice core record reaching back to one million years. The internal isochronous layering of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, revealed by ice radar, is a prerequisite for selecting sites for deep ice core drilling that can be used for studying the paleoclimatic record. In 2004/2005, during the 21st Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE 21), a 200-km long, continuous radar profile was obtained across Dome A. The internal layers along the profile were derived from the stratigraphy detected by the radar. The morphology of the isochronous layers shows that: (1) The internal layers in the shallow ice sheet (0-500 m) are generally flat, with no more than 50 m of layer intervals, and have typical synclines and anticlines in some localized regions. (2) At 500-2000 m below the surface of the ice sheet, the layers appear as 'bright layers', and the width of the layer intervals expands to 50-100 m. (3) When the basal topographic wavelengths are approximate to the thickness of the ice (3 km), the traced internal layers, with localized bumps or concave folds, are asymptotic parallel to the subglacial topography. For the longer topographic wavelengths (~20 km) wider than the thickness of the ice, the layers do not rise and fall with the basal topography. The internal layers surrounding some mountain peaks representing the most extreme variation in the terrain are sharply disturbed by the subglacial topography. (4) Layer discontinuity and fracture were detected in the basal ice sheet. Finally, by combining this new information with that derived from existing data regarding ice thickness, we were able to select three potential sites for reconstructing the age-depth relationship of the ice core.

A freeze-on ice zone along the Zhongshan–Kunlun ice sheet profile, East Antarctica, by a new ground-based ice-penetrating radar

The 2012/2013 Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition （CHINARE） ＇s inland traverse from Zhongshan station to Kunlun station on the East Antarctic ice sheet provided an opportunity to reveal englacial freeze-on ice using ice-penetrating radar. A radar dataset along the profile was collected using a new ground-based radar system with a high frequency of 150 MHz. A typical example of a freeze-on ice structure was revealed in the radar images, similar to that found in the Dome A region. The subglacial stratigraphy showed a new freeze-on ice zone with a length of 10 km near the ice-bedrock interface along the traverse, located 1,044-1,056 km from the coast.

Reconstructing the post-LGM deglacial history of Hollingsworth Glacier on Ricker Hills,Transantarctic Mountains,Antarctica

The Transantarctic Mountains are an important corridor between the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and the Western Ross Sea,where most current ice streams and outlet glaciers arise.We investigated Ricker Hills,the largest exposed mountainous region between Southern Victoria Land and Terra Nova Bay,and dated the glacial landforms using in-situ cosmogenic-nuclide 10 Be surface exposure dating to reconstruct the paleo-glacial dynamics.The surface of the Hollingsworth glacier lowered since the middle of Marine Isotope Stage(MIS)2(22.1 ka);therefore,the Last Glacial Maximum(LGM)occurred before that period.Cosmogenic,geomorphic,and climatic records constrained the glacial surface slope to be between 5.4°and 6.8°.The ice was 270-320 m thicker at the LGM(MIS 2)than presently but did not override the top surface of the Benson Knob.Moreover,previous glacial periods such as the local LGM(MIS 4)or Penultimate Glacial Maximum(MIS 6)maintained thicker ice than the LGM(MIS 2).The Ross Ice Shelf opening during the mid-Holocene(~6 ka)caused the rapid collapse of the terminal outlet glaciers and supplied notable snow accumulation upstream,which stagnated lowering.The greatest lowering and retreat occurred during the late Holocene(2.3~0.8 ka),when elephant seal colonies thrived in the Ross Embayment.

Dome Argus: Ideal site for deep ice drilling

Located on the centre of ice drainage range, the highest Dome Argus （Dome A） of East Antarctic Ice Sheet （EAIS）, could be represented as an ideal site for deep ice cores drilling containing oldest paleo-climate records. To select a suitable drilling site for deep ice core, it needs gather all information pertaining to the local meteorology, ice sheet landforms, ice thickness, subgla- cial topography of bed rocks, ice velocity, internal structures of ice sheet, etc. Based on the International Partnerships in Ice Core Sciences （IPICS）, we present recent achievement of glaciological research and its perspective at Dome A in this paper. We system- atically discussed the merits and possible ventures of potential drilling sites around Dome A. Among all the candidates, we find that the Chinese Antarctic Kunlun Station is the best site for and assess further the possibility to obtain a replicate core for carrying out the first deep ice core drilling campaign. We emphasize studying dynamics and evolution of climate change.

Radar isochronic layer dating for a deep ice core at Kunlun Station, Antarctica

The ages and accumulation rates of ice are important boundary conditions for paleoclimatic ice models. Radardetected isochronic layers can be used to date the ice column beneath the ice surface and infer past accumulation rates. A Deep Ice-Core Drilling Project has been carried out at Kunlun station in the Dome A region, East Antarctica. Radio echo sounding data are collected during the 2004/2005 Chinese National Research Expedition and the 2007/2008 Dome Connection East Antarctica project of the Alfred Wegener Institute(Germany). Radar isochronic layers from the dataset were linked to compare a new deep ice core site from Kunlun station and the Vostok ice core site. Ten visible layers, accounting for ~50% ice thickness at the Kunlun station ice core site, were dated based on the Vostok ice core chronology. At 1,640 m depth below surface, an age of ~160,400 yr was determined, corresponding to a bright layer at Kunlun station. These layers provided geometric information on the past surface of the ice sheet around the ice core site through the Wisconsin glacial stage, Eemian interglacial and Marine Isotope Stage6. Based on a simple ice flow model and the age-depth relationship, we concluded that the region around the Kunlun ice core site had lower past accumulation rates, consistent with the present pattern. The age-depth relationship would thus be expected to correlate and constrain the chronology of the deep ice core at Kunlun station in the future.