(Table 1) Snow accumulation in the McMurdo Dry Valleys

Snowfall was measured at 11 sites in the McMurdo Dry Valleys to determine its magnitude, its temporal changes, and spatial patterns. Annual values ranged from 3 to 50 mm water equivalent with the highest values nearest the coast and decreasing inland. A particularly strong spatial gradient exists in Taylor Valley, probably resulting from local uplift conditions at the coastal margin and valley topography that limits migration inland. More snow occurs in winter near the coast, whereas inland no seasonal pattern is discernable. This may be due, again, to local uplift conditions, which are common in winter. We find no influence of the distance to the sea ice edge. Katabatic winds play an important role in transporting snow to the valley bottoms and essentially double the precipitation. That much of the snow accumulation sublimates prior to making a hydrologic contribution underscores the notion that the McMurdo Dry Valleys are indeed an extreme polar desert.

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Cite this as

Fountain, Andrew G, Nylen, Thomas H, Monaghan, Andrew J, Basagic, Hassan J, Bromwich, David H (2010). Dataset: (Table 1) Snow accumulation in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.809526

DOI retrieved: 2010

Additional Info

Field Value
Imported on November 30, 2024
Last update November 30, 2024
License CC-BY-3.0
Source https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.809526
Author Fountain, Andrew G
Given Name Andrew G
Family Name Fountain
More Authors
Nylen, Thomas H
Monaghan, Andrew J
Basagic, Hassan J
Bromwich, David H
Source Creation 2010
Publication Year 2010
Resource Type text/tab-separated-values - filename: Fountain_2010
Subject Areas
Name: Atmosphere

Related Identifiers
Title: Snow in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
Identifier: https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.1933
Type: DOI
Relation: IsSupplementTo
Year: 2010
Source: International Journal of Climatology
Authors: Fountain Andrew G , Nylen Thomas H , Monaghan Andrew J , Basagic Hassan J , Bromwich David H .