Some Characteristic Properties of Ice Crystal Precipitation in the Summer Season at South Pole Station, Antarctica

Abstract

Observations of ice crystals at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica were made during January 1975 and November 1978. Results of analysis indicate that the maximum precipitation intensity varied between 0.01 and 0.2 mm•hr-1 and the size distribution of ice crystals could be expressed by the exponential equation, ND=N0 exp(-ΛD), similar to other types of solid precipitation. The Z-R relation, Z=10 R^1.0, was introduced for ice crystals. The relation between axial ratio (c/a) and length of the c-axis for bullet and column types of ice crystals coincided with results previously reported.