[A-CC32] Glaciology

[ACC32-08] Satellite and ground-based detection of blowing snow in the Antarctic inland

*Konosuke Sugiura¹, Naohiko Hirasawa² (1.Faculty of Sustainable Design, University of Toyama, 2.National Institute of Polar Research)

Keywords:blowing snow, Antarctic, satellite lidar observation, ground-based observation

In recent years, satellite lidar observations (CALIPSO, ICESat, ICESat-2) have been used to detect blowing snow. Monthly frequency distribution products of Antarctic blowing snow derived from satellite lidar are publicly available, but there are not many field evaluations in Antarctica. In this presentation, the correspondence between satellite lidar detection of blowing snow (532 nm CALIOP/lidar onboard CALIPSO) and ground-based detection of blowing snow (SPC: Snow Particle Counter) around the Dome Fuji Station (77.735ºS and 39.114ºE) in the Antarctic inland was investigated for a limited period during the summer season.
Data from the currently operational satellite lidar (532 nm ICESat-2) indicate that blowing snow was more frequent in areas a little further inland from the coast. The lack of high frequency in coastal areas may be partly due to the fact that blowing snow cannot be detected by satellite due to cloud cover. Furthermore, seasonal variations in the occurrence of blowing snow are apparent. Blowing snow occurs more frequently in winter than in summer. This might be due to the seasonal variation of katabatic winds, which are generally weaker in summer and stronger in winter. Seasonal changes inland are not so significant. Our inland blowing snow observations resulted in 17 cases. In more than 60% of the cases (eleven cases), there was a correspondence between the presence of blowing snow particles by SPC and CALIPSO total attenuated backscatter data. Further analysis is needed for the five cases for which the correspondence with satellite lidar observations is not clear, and this will contribute to the analysis of the frequency of blowing snow in the Arctic region.