Summer boundary-layer height at the plateau site of Dome’C, antarctica

• Published in: Boundary-layer meteorology 2005-06, Vol.115 (3), p.409-422
• Main Authors: Argentini, S, Viola, A, Sempreviva, A M, Petenko, I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boundary layers; Low temperature; Meteorology; Surface temperature; Temperature gradients
• ISSN: 0006-8314; 1573-1472
• DOI: 10.1007/s10546-004-5643-6

Measurements of the mean and turbulent structure of the planetary boundary layer using a sodar and a sonic anemometer, and radiative measurements using a radiometer, were carried out in the summer of 1999-2000 at the Antarctic plateau station of Dome C during a two-month period. At Dome C strong ground-based inversions dominate for most of the year. However, in spite of the low surface temperatures (between -50 and -20 'C), and the surface always covered by snow and ice, a regular daytime boundary-layer evolution, similar to that observed at mid-latitudes, was observed during summertime. The mixed-layer height generally reaches 200-300 m at 1300-1400 LST in high summer (late December, early January); late in the summer (end of January to February), as the solar elevation decreases, it reduces to 100-200 m. A comparison between the mixed-layer height estimated from sodar measurements and that calculated using a mixed-layer growth model shows a rather satisfactory agreement if we assign a value of 0.01-0.02 m s-1 to the subsidence velocity at the top of the mixed layer, and a value of 0.003-0.004 K m-1 to the potential temperature gradient above the mixed layer.