Measurements of blowing snow particle concentration from the second Stable
Antarctic Boundary Layer Experiment (STABLE 2) are presented. The measureme
nts, made at Halley Station (75.6 degreesS, 26.7 degreesW) throughout the 1
991 austral winter, are supplemented with profile measurements of wind spee
d, air temperature, and humidity. Threshold wind speeds for blowing snow ar
e shown to be distinctly different for various episodes, often depending st
rongly on the the availability of loose snow. Blowing snow is measured to o
ccur at Halley between 27 and 37% of the time during winter. Total winter (
June, July, August) blowing snow sublimation at Halley is calculated to be
around 4.7 mm water equivalent, 3.7% of total accumulation over the same pe
riod. Total winter blowing snow mass transport is calculated to be around 5
.5 x 10(5) kg per metre width. Measured humidity profiles at Halley show th
at during winter blowing snow conditions, a layer of near-saturated air for
ms, causing total sublimation to be less than that for seasonal or limited
fetch snow covers. The extent of sublimation is shown to be strongly depend
ent on wind speed, temperature and fetch.