A Cloud Climatology for Selected Antarctic Locations from November 1966, December 1966 and January 1967 - Meteorological Satellite Data

Abstract : The report has been prepared in response to a requirement for a planning study on the suitability as temporary base camps of three selected locations along the Byrd Land and Ellsworth Land Coasts. Available meteorological satellite data for the summer-operating seasons and that portion of West Antarctica in which these camps are located consists of ESSA-3 AVCS photographs, obtained from the National Environmental Satellite Center and the National Weather Records Center, and ESSA-2 and NIMBUS-2 APT pictures copied at McMurdo Station, all for the period November 1966 through January 1967. The satellite AVCS photographs and APT pictures were evaluated for total sky cover, and for cloud type and amount; and a nephanalysis was then drawn for each day of this 3-month period. Surface and upper-air charts prepared at McMurdo Station were compared with the satellite cloud and weather systems, and reanalyzed as necessary.