Spatial and Temporal Variations in the South Polar Surface Energy Balance

Abstract

The surface energy balance in Antarctica is examined by summarizing and comparing field data collected at seven locations in five latitudinal zones, each having different ice surface characteristics which are specified. Satellite records are used to estimate the energy balance of the pack ice zone for which no field data are available. The midwinter energy loss from the ocean to the atmosphere of this zone may be almost an order of magnitude higher than previous estimates, due to a much larger extent of open water as determined from satellite observations. Interannual variations of the energy balance over the continent appear to be small, as judged from the limited data set, but the effects of sea ice, the largest year-to-year variable in the energy balance, could not be determined without better satellite-derived information of the sea ice thickness distribution.