On the mass economy of the interior of the Antarctic Ice Cap

Abstract

The different components in the mass economy of the inner parts of the Antarctic ice cap are treated in some detail. Extrapolation of glaciological and meteorological observations at the coast and recent observations from the interior indicate that over extensive areas snow drift, evaporation, and hoarfrost formation are of minor importance. Precipitation is almost the only source of accumulation. As the observed amounts of atmospheric water vapor are small, the speed of inflowing moist air must be high, but it is compatible with measured meridional wind components at the border of the continent.