Meteorological observations at Syowa Station in 1993 by the 34th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition

Abstract

This paper describes the results of meteorological observations carried out by the Meteorological Observation Team of the 34th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-34) from 1 February 1993 to 31 January 1994 at Syowa Station. The method of observations, instruments, and statistics at Syowa Station were the same as those of the JARE-33 team. The principal characteristics in the period of JARE-34 are as follows : 1) Annual mean surface air pressure and temperature were somewhat lower than normal. 2) Blizzards were encountered 34 times. There was a record strong blizzard in December. 3) In the stratosphere, air temperature was very low in winter and spring. 4) The deepest ozone hole to date was observed. Total ozone recorded 140m atm-cm on 11th October, the lowest ever at Syowa Station. 5) With the Brewer spectrophotometer, solar spectral UV irradiance was observed through the whole year.