A new method of measuring optical turbulence of atmospheric surface layer at Antarctic Taishan Station with ultrasonic anemometer

To find the optimal location for large-aperture telescopes is a goal of astronomy. Chinese Antarctic astronomy has begun to flourish in recent years, and it is an urgent need in basic astronomical work to measure and analyze the optical turbulence spatiotemporal distribution in the Antarctic region. We analyzed turbulence data measured by a mobile atmospheric parameter measurement system from 30 December 2013 to 10 February 2014 at Antarctic Taishan Station. Because there is a discrepancy between the refractive index structure constant Cn2 measured by an ultrasonic anemometer with a single-point temperature structure function method and by micro-thermometer, a new method to measure C,2 with a temperature spectrum method is proposed herein. Through comparing long-term continuous Cn2 data derived from ultrasonic anemometer with those via the new method and micro-thermometer, trend, magnitude and measured weak turbulence of-2× 10-16m-2/3 are generally satisfactory. The reason for the discrepancy in Cn2 measurement between the ultrasonic anemometer with the old method and micro-thermometer is investigated.

A mobile polar atmospheric parameter measurement system:Ⅱ. First atmospheric turbulence observation at Antarctic Taishan Station

This is the second paper of a series devoted to atmospheric optical turbulence Cn^2 observation using a mobile polar atmospheric parameter measurement system. We present the initial results of Cn^2 measurement at Antarctic Taishan Station using micro-thermal sensors and a three-dimensional sonic anemometer at height -2.0 m above the snow surface. The site testing experiments were carried out during the 30th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition （CH1NARE）. We collected about 1 000 h of data between 30 December 2013 and 10 February 2014. The C,： curve exhibits clear daily structures, with two peaks around midnight and midday and two troughs around 7：30 and 17：00 local time （UTC＋5）. The mean C,2 is 2.7×10^-15 m^-2/3 and the 25th and 75th percentiles of the C,2 cumulative distribution are 9.6×10^-16 m^-2/3 and 6.2×10^-15 m^-2/3, respectively. Meteorological parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and air pressure are also presented.

Effects of Wind Fences on the Wind Environment around Jang Bogo Antarctic Research Station

This study investigated the flow characteristics altered by Jang Bogo Antarctic Research Station using computational fluid dynamics(CFD) modeling. The topography and buildings around Jang Bogo Station were constructed with computeraided-design data in the CFD model domain. We simulated 16 cases with different inflow directions, and compared the flow characteristics with and without Jang Bogo Station for each inflow direction. The wind data recorded by the site’s automatic weather station(AWS) were used for comparison. Wind rose analysis showed that the wind speed and direction after the construction of Jang Bogo Station were quite different from those before construction. We also investigated how virtual wind fences would modify the flow patterns, changing the distance of the fence from the station as well as the porosity of the fence. For westerly inflows, when the AWS was downwind of Jang Bogo Station, the decrease in wind speed was maximized(-81% for west-northwesterly). The wind speed reduction was also greater as the distance of the fence was closer to Jang Bogo Station. With the same distance, the fence with medium porosity(25%–33%) maximized the wind speed reduction.These results suggest that the location and material of the wind fence should be selected carefully, or AWS data should be interpreted cautiously, for particular prevailing wind directions.

MEDIUM-RANGE OSCILLATION OF METEOROLOGICAL ELEMENTS AT GREAT WALL STATION,ANTARCTICA

A method of multi-spectral analysis is used to study the spectral characteristics of surface and upper-level meteorological elements over the Great Wall Station (62°12'S, 58°57'W), Antarctica and their phasecorrelation, propagation of mean oscillation at 500hPa level in the Southern Hemisphere and their corresponding synoptic sense. the results are summed up as follows: 1. Over the sub-Antatctic zone, as in the Northern Hemisphere there generally exist quasi-weekly oscillation and quasi-biweekly oscillation. In different seasons the oscillations of meteorological elements are different: in winter season quasi-biweekly oscillation is dominant, while in summer season quasi-weekly oscillation is dominant. 2. From the Earth's surface to the lower stratosphere there is a distinct quasi-weekly oscillation at each isobaric surface, but the most intense oscillation appears at 200-300hPa, and the oscillations of height and temperature are propagated downward. 3. Both in winter and summer seasons the quasi-biweekly oscillation are propagated from west to east, and the mean velocity of its propagation is about 7-17 longtitude / day. 4. The quasi-biweekly oscillation and the quasi-weekly oscillation over the sub - Antarctic zone are closely related to the activity and intensity variation of polar vortex at 500hPa, while at 1000hPa they reflect an interaction between the circumpolar depression and the sub-tropical high. The quasi-biweekly oscillation may be a reflection of inherent oscillation of the polar vortex, where as the quasi-weekly oscillation is a result of forced oscillation by external disturbance.A large number of calculations and analysis made reveals the features of medium-range oscillation over the sub-Antarctic zone. The results are of significance for understanding the behaviour of synoptic dynamics and making the weather forecast.This work is supported by National Committee for Antarctic Research.

On the problems concerned in“The subter－ranean electrical conductivity structure at the ChineseGreatWalStationonAntarctic（CG┐WSA）”byXiaopingZeng，YunfangLinandYuechenZhao

By means of the Capon spectral analysis technique calculated the frequency response of the geomagnetic transfer functions for the Chinese Great Wall Station on Antarctic, and made a preliminary inference for the underground electrical conductivity structure. In the present note, the writer considers that there are some problems concerned in their paper. Maybe it is worthwhile discussing these problems as below.

Temperature variations at the Great Wall and Zhongshan stations

Surface meteorological observations have been carried out at the Great Wall station （GW） and Zhongshan station （ZS） from 1984 to 2008 and from 1989 to 2008 respectively. The variation in mean air temperature and its trends are derived from the meteorological observation data recorded at both stations. The warming rate of the annual mean temperature at GW is similar to that at Bellingshausen station, which is about 3 km distant. Thus, the warming trend is representative of the King George Island region. The warming rate of ZS is less different from that at Davis station,which is about 100 km from ZS. It can be said that the meteorological data recorded at both stations are representative of the regions of the King George Island and east coast of the Antarctic.

Anomalous extensive landfast sea ice in the vicinity of Inexpressible Island, Antarctica

On 10 December 2017,a Chinese research vessel R/V Xuelong encountered an extensive area of landfast ice offshore Inexpressible Island(Antarctica)near the location where the fifth Chinese Antarctic research station is to be built.Using multi-source satellite images and weather data,we analyzed the ice conditions during the event season and reconstructed the development of landfast ice.Two stages in late September and early October were identified as contributing to the final ice extent.These two events are highly related to local-and large-scale weather conditions.Satellite images from 2003 to 2017 showed that four in fifteen years experienced severe landfast ice conditions,suggesting that it is not a rare phenomenon.