Boundary Layer Meteorology measurements collected from ice stations during the SIPEX II voyage of the Aurora Australis, 2012

Brief description

Note - these data should be used with caution. The chief investigator for the dataset has indicated that a better quality dataset exists, but the AADC have been unable to attain it for archive.


Matlab files containing raw data collected using the program "HC2S3snowwind.CR1" running on Campbell Scientific CR1000 dataloggers. Datalogger "C" was used during all ice stations. On the 8th of October a second mast and logger ("A") were installed on what became the final day of Ice Station 4, and both loggers were deployed at stations 6 and 7, with "C" containing the longer records for each station as it was always installed first and (conditions permitting) left out longer.

The sensors on these masts consist of:
RM Young "Wind Sentry" Vane and Anemometer set (on top of each mast), no serial numbers
Rotronics HC2S3 temperature and relative humidity sensors with standard polyethylene filters

Upper sensor, mast "C": s/n 60837541
Lower sensor, mast "C": s/n 60837536
Upper sensor, mast "A": s/n 60837468
Lower sensor, mast "A": s/n 60834204

RM Young "Wind Sentry" anemometers (without vane) at 3 additional elevations on each mast
Wenglor YHO3NCT8 photoelectric sensors at 4 heights on each mast. The upper sensor and the third sensor from the top were oriented facing up, while the others faced down. The upper three sensors were purchased in 2012, from a batch of these sensors manufactured in a new Eastern European factory while the lowest sensor on each mast came from a lot purchased in 2007, manufactured in Wenglor's German factory and extensively tested for use in snow.

Data contained in these .mat files includes the following variables, with units:

Textdates: CSI formatted dates, UTC except for station 2, which was (accidentally) UTC+12
Datenm: Matlab "datenumber", all UTC except for station 2, which is also UTC+12 hours.
Battvolt: battery voltage
Wptemp: temperature of the Wiring Panel thermister, degrees C
Temp 1: air temperature above approximately 50cm, ventilated HC2S3 rotronics sensor, degrees C
RH1: relative humidity (WRT water) above approximately 50cm, ventilated HC2S3 rotronics sensor, %
Temp 2: air temperature above approximately 200cm, ventilated HC2S3 rotronics sensor, degrees C
RH2: relative humidity (WRT water) above 197cm, ventilated HC2S3 rotronics sensor, %
Snow1: snow particles per 10second interval at approximately 10cm
Snow2: snow particles per 10second interval at approximately 50cm
Snow3: snow particles per 10second interval at approximately 100cm
Snow4: snow particles per 10second interval at approximately 200cm
Wind1: average speed (m/s) at approximately 250cm during 10s interval
Wind1max: maximum speed at approximately 250cm during 10s interval
Wind2: average speed (m/s) at approximately 100cm during 10s interval
Wind2max: maximum speed at approximately 100cm during 10s interval
Wind3: average speed (m/s) at approximately 120cm during 10s interval
Wind3max: maximum speed at approximately 120cm during 10s interval
Wind4: average speed (m/s) at approximately 50cm during 10s interval
Wind4max: maximum speed at approximately 50cm during 10s interval
WindDir: wind direction at approximately 250cm, degrees, relative to mast orientation (needs correction to true)

Measurement heights varied by ice station and by mast being used.

Lineage

Progress Code: completed

Statement: Note - these data should be used with caution. The chief investigator for the dataset has indicated that a better quality dataset exists, but the AADC have been unable to attain it for archive.


During ice station 6, one of the anemometers ("C3") was not operational on install, but un-froze (problem was likely due to ice buildup from storage in the 'tweens) within 1 hour and the record following that time was in good accord with the expected values for that height, based on the above and below values.

Jenny Hutchings, Ted Maksym Rob Massom, and Ernesto Trujillo-Gomez also participated in this data collection effort, but are not primary contacts for the data. Field assistance from various other parties is gratefully appreciated.