########################################################################### # Notice on the use of Antarctic Meteorological Research Center data sets # ########################################################################### # The Antarctic Meteorological Research Center (AMRC) collects, archives # # and provides Antarctic meteorological observational data to the # # community and public for research, logistic, and educational activities.# # The AMRC requests acknowledgement for use of the data in any published # # work. See http://amrc.ssec.wisc.edu/acknowledgement.html for details on # # how to acknowledge AMRC data, displays or information. # # If the AMRC data are critical to the work, co-authorship may be # # appropriate. Please contact the AMRC in such a case. # # # # AMRC Contact Information: # # Address: 947 Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences Building # # 1225 West Dayton Street # # Madison, Wisconsin, USA 53706 # # Telephone: +1 (608) 265-4816 # # Fax: +1 (608) 263-6738 # # E-mail: amrc@ssec.wisc.edu # # Web: http://amrc.ssec.wisc.edu/ # # FTP: ftp://amrc.ssec.wisc.edu/ # # McIDAS ADDE: Group AMRC and ARCHIVE on aws.ssec.wisc.edu # # RAMADDA: https://amrc.ssec.wisc.edu/repository/ # # Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AMRCAWS # # Twitter: http://twitter.com/antmet # # Google+: https://plus.google.com/115034961929701598493/posts?hl=en # # YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/AMRCantmet # # Wikipedia: # # http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Meteorological_Research_Center # # http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Automatic_Weather_Stations_Project # # # Updated: 24 July 2013 # # # ########################################################################### Missing Data: **Missing Data for January and February 1988** Just a bit more clarification for you on the surface and horizon definitions: SD: Surface Definition HD: Horizon Definition G: Good - Snow surface features such as sastrugi, drifts, and gullies are easily identified by shadow. The sun is usually unobscured. The horizon is sharply defined by shadow or contrast. F: Fair - Snow features can be identified by contrast. No definite shadows exist. The sun is usually totally obscured. The horizon may be identified although the contrast between the sky and snow is not sharply defined. P: Poor - Snow surfaces cannot be readily identified except from close up. The sun is usually totally obscured. The horizon is barely discernable. Snow surfaces cannot be readily identified except from close up. The sun is usually totally obscured. The horizon is barely discernable. N: Nil - Snow surfaces cannot be identified. No shadows or contrast exist. Dark colored objects appear to float in the air. The sun is totally obscured although the overcast may exhibit considerable glare. The glare appears to be equally bright from surface reflection and from all directions. Total loss of horizon , snow merges with the whiteness of the sky. These definitions are meant to help aviators determine landing conditions. Kathie Hill Meteorology Coordinator Raytheon Polar Services With regards to surface/synoptic reports of cloud layers: The cloud groups do not necessarily represent low, middle and high cloud layers. They simply represent whatever cloud layers are present, beginning with the lowest (closest to surface) layer. Skc = no clouds; Few = 1,2 octas coverage; Sct = 3,4 octas; Bkn = 5,6,7 octas; Ovc = 8 octas. The numbers following represent the height of clouds above the observing surface (not above sea-level) in feet. Simply add 3 zeros to the numbers shown, ie. 010 = 1000ft, 025 = 2500ft, 060 = 6,000ft. If the number is 000 then there is a surface-based obscuration and it will be described in the Remarks section, ie. BLSN FEW000 = Blowing snow is obscuring 1-2 octas of the sky. Dar Gibson Sr. Meteorologist, RPSC South Pole Station, Antarctica