Temporal and spatial variability of the surface energy balance in Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica

Abstract

We present data of nine Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), which are located in Dronning Maud Land (DML), East Antarctica, since the austral summer of 1997. Potential temperature and wind speed are maximum at the sites with the steepest surface slope, i.e., at the edge of the Antarctic plateau. Specific humidity and accumulation decrease with elevation and distance from the coast. The annual average energy gain at the surface from the downward sensible heat flux varies between ~3 W m-2 and ~25 W m-2, with the highest values at the sites with the largest surface inclination and wind speeds. The net radiative flux is negative and largely balances this sensible heat flux and ranges from ~- 2W m-2 to ~-28 W m-2; maximum values can be linked to maxima in surface slope and wind speed,. and suggest a strong connection between the heat budget and the katabatic flow in DML. The average latent heat flux is generally small and negative (~-1 W m-2) indicating a slight net mass loss through sublimation.