Measurements of snowdrifts and wind profiles around the huts at Syowa Station in Antarctica

Abstract

The author joined in the 19th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition and measured the forms and quantities of snowdrifts accumulated around the existing high floor huts (Observation Hut and Ionosphere Hut) located in the major part of Syowa Station. He also investigated the characteristics of the wind profile near the huts selectively on days when strong wind was blowing by obtaining the roughness length and power index of mean wind profile on the snow-covered ground. The results of measurement are summarized as follows : (1) The snowdrifts around the high floor huts formed a wind-scoop and changed into U type with a sharp ridge line on the lee side. The annual cumulative quantities of snowdrifts, measured in the measuring section on the lee side, were 78.3m^3 and 181.7m^3 around Observation Hut and Ionosphere Hut respectively. (2) The characteristics of the wind profile conformed to the logarithmic law comparatively. The roughness length, Z_0,was in the range from 10^0 to 10^ with 2.2×10^(m) as the mean value. The power index α ranged from 1/2.9 to 1/7 with 1/4.9 as the mean value.