Our Antarctic Facilities
Macquarie Island
3 days
Australian Activities in Antarctica
Tony Worby
IICWG
Chile, October 2014
International Gateway to Antarctica
Hobart is Australia’s Gateway to East Antarctica and
the Southern Ocean
•
Australian Antarctic Division (AAD)
•
Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial
Organisation’s (CSIRO) – Marine &
Atmospheric Research
•
University of Tasmania - Institute of
Marine & Antarctic Studies (IMAS)
•
Antarctic, Climate & Ecosystems
Cooperative Research Centre (ACE
CRC)
•
Integrated Marine Observing System
(IMOS)
•
Australian Maritime College (AMC)
•
CCAMLR, ACAP, SOOS Secretariats
Other National Agencies
•
Bureau of Meteorology
•
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Tasmanian Antarctic research
hub
International Gateway to Antarctica
Approx. 1200 people directly
Employed in Antarctic and Marine
Hobart provides a natural deep water
harbour adjacent to the main city centre
Tasmania as an “Antarctic Gateway”
$24M investment over 3 years to further built Hobart’s
profile as an ‘Antarctic Gateway’ (Federal Government)
Build research capacity across institutions
Provide additional logistics capability
Australian Gov’t has a “20- year strategy” discussion
document for our Antarctic program - recently released
Investment in ‘Sea Ice Services’ (2 people)
Longer-term aspiration to develop sea ice forecasting
capability (24 – 72 hours + seasonal)
Keen to work with other nations and leverage experience of
Arctic operators!
Australian Activities in Antarctica - a Typical Year
•
At least one visit to each station
•
Over 10,000 tonnes of cargo delivered
•
Over 500 passenger return trips by ship
or air
•
Over 50,000 occupied bed nights
•
Over 6 million litres of fuel used for
station electrical plants, shipping,
aviation, vehicles, etc.
•
Scientific research at sea, on stations
and in the deep field
The Australian Search and Rescue Region
SOUTH AFRICA SSR REGION AUSTRALIA SSR REGION NZ SSRSearch and Rescue incidents in Antarctica
and the Southern Ocean
Met Area X - Australia
Transition of met information
to mariners. Regions are part of
Global Maritime Distress
Safety System (GMDSS).
Bureau of Meteorology
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology has primary
responsibility for providing weather forecasts in support
of operational, research and SAR activities in Antarctica
and the Southern Ocean.
Issuing of routine forecasts
Aviation briefing notes
Broad surface trough well to the north of Casey meaning for the next couple of days wind should be light and cloud base over the skiway should be not too low. Low level cloud over skiway a threat mid to late week though as weak systems develop in Vincennes Bay. Mid Level Lows sending pulses over moisture towards ABN. Possible clearance hinted at by guidance between these pulses, but will need to assess satellite imagery closer to the expected time to give more definitive advice on when, and note thinning, not complete clearance, of cloud is expected (ie. Surface definition may not be good, but be in the poor-fair range).
Casey Skiway & Mitchell Peninsula
Monday: Becoming overcast during the day, base not too low (ie. Around 3-4000ft amsl). Poor SD, poor HD developing.
Tuesday: Overcast, some light snow at times. Poor SD, HD.
Wednesday: Overcast with some light snow most of day, although chance of some clearing later. Low level cloud a possibility. Poor SD, HD.
Aurora Basin
Monday: Possibly OK conditions (depending on what level of SD is acceptable) developing during the day with cloud base rising to about 8000ft. Will need to assess satellite imagery in morning for more definitive timing (current timing is around lunchtime). SD/HD expected to improve from nil to poor (and possibly fair). Icing improving along route throughout day..
TAF YWKS 232230Z 2400/2512
09035G45KT 0100 BLSN ‐SN SCT030 OVC060
BECMG 2407/2409 09025G35KT 9999 DRSN ‐SN
BKN025 OVC060
BECMG 2422/2500 09015KT 9999 FEW015 BKN025
SCT060
BECMG 2503/2505 09008KT 9999 FEW025
RMK
SFC AND HZN DEFN POOR BECMG 2503/2505
GOOD
Davis Station Public Weather Forecast
Issued at 2300 UTC on 30/11/13
Warnings and Weather Summary
Weather Warnings: Gale farce winds on the Plateau later Monday and Tuesday. Strong,
possibly gale farce winds at Davis overnight Monday into Tuesday.
Weather Summary: Low and associated front approaching late Monday with periods of
snow developing and winds increasing, easing by Wednesday.
Sunday 1 Dec 2013
Mostly sunny. NE winds 10/20 knots. SFC and HZN definition good. Min/Max ~-4/2 C
Winds an the plateau: NE 15/25 knots,
Monday 2 Dec 2013
Fine at first. Cloud increasing during the day and periods of snow during the evening, NE
winds 15/25 knots, increasing late afternoon/evening to 20/30 knots, possibly reaching 35
knots overnight. SFC and HZN definition good reducing to poor in the evening.
Min/Max ~-4/1 C
Winds an the plateau: NE 25/35 knots, increasing overnight to 35/45 knots.
Some problems – observation stations (surface)
Poleward of 40
o
5014
234
Some problems – observation stations (upper air)
Poleward of 40
o
370
26
ACCESS
‐
P – the initial
version
•
Polar atmospheric
forecast model
developed within the
Bureau of
Meteorology.
•
Replacement of
PolarLAPS
•
Nested within
ACCESS-G APS1 and
run in near-real-time
at 00Z and 12Z out for
72 hours.
•
~27km greater
Antarctic region
•
Australian version of
the UK Met office UM.
ACCESS
‐
P
– the new version
‐
proposed)
ACCESS
‐
P:
•
11km atmosphere only
(initially) regional model
•
700x700 grid points, 72
levels
•
Nested within ACCESS
‐
G
(24km)
•
Covers the greater Antarctic
region including sea ice
extent
•
Will eventually couple an
ocean/sea ice to the
atmosphere model
Used for:
•
Intercontinental aviation
(Hobart to bases)
Antarctic Gateway: Sea Ice Information Service
Growing demand for sea ice information to aid navigation
Australian research vessel “Aurora Australis” and other vessels operating in the Antarctic
sea ice zone
Research institutions in Hobart have been working to provide relevant information
Aspire to further develop the “Sea Ice View Tool” and transition to more robust
operational service, including sea ice forecasting
Currently – Sea Ice View Tool: Near-Real-Time delivery to any computer on ship or ...
Rapid deliveryof current data / information (individualproducts - in general not synthesis)
Two data types:
images = regular grid (raster) in geographic projection
points = points, lines, polygons (vector) e.g. Ice edge, ship track
Various satellite sensor typesand characteristics (data delivered as “images”): Visible MODIS (ATSR, MERIS, VIIRS, AVHRR, ... Plus Landsat, etc) Infra-red MODIS as single or multi-channel (ATSR, VIIRS, AVHRR) Active Microwave = imaging radar, scatterometer
(Passive Microwave as brightness temperature)
Products and
delivery tailored to ship’s communications
and user requirements.
Control Panel
Full detail view + overlays
Legend
(no units)
Overview
+ box =
detail
Tabs
Date
List
Zoom
Conclusions
Growing demand for sea ice products to be delivered to
vessels to aid navigation
Preference to deliver images and tools for interpretation,
rather than ice charts per se
Investment by Australian Government to provide initial
service (3 years)
Looking for opportunities to leverage investment and build
capacity and capability with partners
Longer-term aspiration to develop sea ice forecasting
capability (24 – 72 hours + seasonal)
Keen to work with other nations and leverage experience of
Arctic operators!
