Energy Balance at the Surface of the Ice Sheet in the Coastal Area of Adélie Land, Antarctica (Abstract only)

Abstract

Hourly measurements of wind, temperature, and humidity were made between elevations of 1 and 20 m in the coastal area of Adélie Land over a period of 45 d in January and February 1978. About 1000 profiles are available.The height of the constant flux layer is >5 m despite the influence of katabatic winds, the wind profile is logarithmic with a mean standard deviation from the logarithmic law of 15 mm s−1. The potential temperature profile is also logarithmic with a mean standard deviation of 0.04°C. The most important deviation from the logarithmic law appears between -4 and 0°C.Humidity was measured at two points only, between 1 and 20 m; the mean gradient was about 0.01 mbar m−1 and the flux of latent heat was generally negligible.Net radiation was measured for only 10 d because of radiometer failure. All the fluxes are calculated using data for the 5 m layer. For the 10 d period, the heat loss was about 3 Wm−2 with a mean heat flux of -27.5 Wm−2 and mean net radiation of -10.5 Wm−2(the minus sign signifying the flux is towards the surface). In general, the heat flux is towards the surface (92% of the cases) but is away from the surface in the afternoon. The ablation during the 10 d period without snow-fall was about 200 mm of ice.