Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-490
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-490
16 Jun 2023
 | 16 Jun 2023

Local spatial variability in the occurrence of summer precipitation in the Sør Rondane Mountains, Antarctica

Alfonso Ferrone, Étienne Vignon, Andrea Zonato, and Alexis Berne

Abstract. During the austral summer 2019/2020, three vertically-pointing K-band Doppler profilers (MRR-PRO) have been deployed along a transect across the Sør Rondane Mountains, directly south of the scientific base Princess Elisabeth Antarctica. The MRR-PRO have been placed at locations corresponding to different stages of the interaction between the complex terrain and the typical flow associated with precipitating systems. The radar measurements, alongside information from the ERA5 reanalysis and a set of high-resolution WRF simulations, have been used to study the spatial variability of snowfall across the transect. Radar observations reveal differences in the frequency of occurrence of virga and surface precipitation above the transect. An analysis of the WRF outputs reveals the presence of a relatively dry layer above the radar locations, reaching a constant altitude of 3.5 km above mean sea level. Due to the complex terrain, the depth of the layer varies across the transect, affecting sublimation and the occurrence of virgae. Combined information from the ERA5 reanalysis, the WRF simulations, and ground-level measurements suggest that orographic lifting enhances precipitation above the highest mountain peaks. Finally, the analysis of the succession of virga and surface precipitation above the sites shows that, in most cases, they represent different stages of the same large-scale events. This study reveals the significant spatial variability in the occurrence of precipitation in a region of complex terrain, emphasizing the importance of collecting snowfall measurements in the mountainous regions of the Antarctic continent.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

24 Nov 2023
Local spatial variability in the occurrence of summer precipitation in the Sør Rondane Mountains, Antarctica
Alfonso Ferrone, Étienne Vignon, Andrea Zonato, and Alexis Berne
The Cryosphere, 17, 4937–4956, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4937-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4937-2023, 2023
Short summary
Alfonso Ferrone, Étienne Vignon, Andrea Zonato, and Alexis Berne

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-490', Anonymous Referee #1, 28 Jun 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Alfonso Ferrone, 12 Sep 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-490', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Aug 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Alfonso Ferrone, 12 Sep 2023

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-490', Anonymous Referee #1, 28 Jun 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Alfonso Ferrone, 12 Sep 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-490', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Aug 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Alfonso Ferrone, 12 Sep 2023

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (25 Sep 2023) by Xavier Fettweis
AR by Alfonso Ferrone on behalf of the Authors (25 Sep 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (09 Oct 2023) by Xavier Fettweis
AR by Alfonso Ferrone on behalf of the Authors (16 Oct 2023)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

24 Nov 2023
Local spatial variability in the occurrence of summer precipitation in the Sør Rondane Mountains, Antarctica
Alfonso Ferrone, Étienne Vignon, Andrea Zonato, and Alexis Berne
The Cryosphere, 17, 4937–4956, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4937-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4937-2023, 2023
Short summary
Alfonso Ferrone, Étienne Vignon, Andrea Zonato, and Alexis Berne

Data sets

Radar and ground-level measurements collected during the POPE 2020 campaign at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Alfonso Ferrone, Alexis Berne https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7428690

Alfonso Ferrone, Étienne Vignon, Andrea Zonato, and Alexis Berne

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Short summary
In austral summer 2019/2020, three K-band Doppler profilers were deployed across the Sør Rondane Mountains, south of the Belgian base Princess Elisabeth Antarctica. Their measurements, along with atmospheric simulations and reanalysis, have been used to study the spatial variability of precipitation over the region, as well as investigate the interaction between the complex terrain and the typical flow associated with precipitating systems.