SOME ASPECTS OF THE CLIMATOLOGY OF DUMONT DURVILLE, ADELIE LAND, ANTARCTICA

The climatological study over 32 years of data taken at the meteorological station of Dumont d'Urville, Adelie Land, East Antarctica shows two remarkable results concerning the temperature. Firstly one observes a warming trend of 0.26-degrees-C per decade. Secondly there are two very contrasted seasons, summer and winter, separated by short interseasons, with the autumn longer than the spring, which can be explained by the thermal effect of the ocean. Concerning the wind, there are winds blowing from sea (300-degrees) in summer. when the ocean is free of ice, which suggests the occurrence of a coast breeze, whereas the strong winds from continent (140-degrees), following the direction of katabatic winds, increase when the sea-ice covers the ocean. These winds are strongest and most frequent during the season changes in March and April and in August and September. The results show that the diurnal variation of the wind is mainly determined by the radiation cycle.