ON THE EXTRAORDINARY KATABATIC WINDS OF ADELIE LAND

The winds observed in Adelie Land, eastern Antarctica, are the stronge st observed anywhere on Earth close to sea level, e.g. Cape Denison me asured a mean annual wind speed of about 20 m s(-1). Some historic dat a from the area are available; however, such measurements were carried out at different places for different time periods. Hence in December 1992, we placed four automatic weather stations along the coast of Ad elie Land, two in the maximum wind jet (Port Martin and Cape Denison) and one on each side of this jet (D 10 close to Dumont d'Urville and P enguin Point, respectively). We obtained about three months of good da ta, as on March 25, 1993, a strong storm destroyed three of the four w ind sensors. Wind velocities are discussed as a function of other mete orological parameters. Further, the interrelationships between the sta tions are described. Some of the findings are (1) the very high wind s peeds reported earlier this century are in agreement with our measurem ents the wind directional constancy is high; (2) historic measurements reported Cape Denison to be the windiest station, not only for Antarc tica, but also close to sea level for planet Earth; again our measurem ents are in agreement; (3) very strong wind speeds have a more down-sl ope direction than weaker ones; (4) the general atmospheric pressure g radient enhanced or inhibited the gravity flow; this is especially wel l pronounced in summer; and (5) in summer, above normal pressure is co rrelate with above normal temperatures; in fall the opposite holds tru e.