Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Title

Annals of Glaciology

Rights and Access Note

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Publication Date

2004

First Page

139

Last Page

145

Volume Number

39

Abstract/ Summary

McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV, Ross Sea region, Antarctica) precipitation exhibits extreme seasonality in ion concentration, 3-5 orders of magnitude between summer and winter precipitation. To identify aerosol sources and investigate causes for the observed amplitude in concentration variability, four snow pits were sampled along a coast-Polar Plateau transect across the MDV. The elevation of the sites ranges from 50 to 2400 m and the distance from the coast from 8 to 93 km. Average chemistry gradients along the transect indicate that most species have either a predominant marine or terrestrial source in the MDV. Empirical orthogonal function analysis on the snow-chemistry time series shows that at least 57% of aerosol deposition occurs concurrently. A conceptual climate model, based on meteorological observations, is used to explain the strong seasonality in the MDV. Our results suggest that radiative forcing of the ice-free valleys creates a surface low-pressure cell during summer which promotes air-mass flow from the Ross Sea. The associated precipitating air mass is relatively warm, humid and contains a high concentration of aerosols. During winter, the MDV are dominated by air masses draining off the East Antarctic ice sheet, that are characterized by cold, dry and low concentrations of aerosols. The strong differences between these two air-mass sources create in the MDV a polar version of the monsoonal flow, with humid, warm summers and dry, cold winters.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Bertler, NAN, Mayewski, PA, Barrett, PJ, Sneed, SB, Handley, MJ, and Kreutz, KJ, 2004, Monsoonal Circulation of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Ross Sea Region, Antarctica: Signal from the Snow Chemistry: Annals of Glaciology, Vol 39, 2005, v. 39, p. 139-145. Available on publisher's site at: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/igsoc/agl/2004/00000039/00000001/art00022

Publisher Statement

© Copyright 2004 by the International Glaciological Society

DOI

10.3189/172756404781814087

Version

publisher's version of the published document

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted.