Yukimarimo at Dome C, Antarctica

Abstract

Balls of frost (yukimarimo) up to 12 cm in diameter and weighing up to 14 g were observed forming in light winds in the temperature range, −70 to −60 °C at Dome Charlie, Antarctica, during the 2014 winter. Their density ranged from 15 to 60 kg m−3. Meteorological conditions during four formation periods are tabulated. Their formation seems to be due to a clumping of crystals caused by electrostatic attraction, followed by the collection of hoarfrost crystals while rolling along the snow surface.

Keywords

• Antarctic glaciology
• atmosphere/ice/ocean interactions
• snow/ice surface processes