Results of spectral measurements of atmospheric aerosol optical depth with sun photometers in the 58th Russian Antarctic Expedition

We discuss the specific features of the spatiotemporal variations in the atmospheric aerosol optical depth (AOD) measured during the 58th Russian Antarctic Expedition on board RVs “Akademik Fedorov” and “Akademik Tryoshnikov” and at the Mirny station. It is shown that the main feature of the spatiotemporal AOD distribution over ocean in the Southern Hemisphere is the linear latitudinal decrease of AOD from 0.15 at the equator to 0.025 near Antarctica. We indicate that the low AOD level in Antarctica (0.022 ± 0.005) has persisted for the last 17 years.