Mesoscale Atmospheric Circulations in Terra Nova Bay

Project aim

Small cyclones over the Southern Ocean, through their transport of heat and moisture, represent an important component of the maintenance of Southern Hemisphere climate. The relationship between these cyclones and persistent openings in the sea-ice ("polynyas") remains uncertain. This project will participate in a U.S.-funded observational program in Terra Nova Bay. The data collected will be combined with state-of-the-art modelling techniques to advance the understanding of atmospheric processes responsible for the development and decay of small Southern Ocean cyclones and to explore the interactions between these cyclones and the underlying surface conditions, including sea-ice extent, thickness, concentration, motion, and temperature.