REQUIREMENTS FOR THE

Antarctica has some of the most hazardous weather on Earth. The continent is known for its extreme weather including bitterly cold temperatures and brutal winds. The introduction of satellite coverage over the continent and Southern Ocean for weather research and operational forecasting has provided new insight into the patterns and origins of these harsh conditions. However, forecasting for travel across the continent is still difficult, especially in West Antarctica. In this study satellite imagery is used to determine impact times of weather systems over West Antarctica. Prior gaps in satellite coverage have impeded forecasting abilities, and real time data from automated weather stations (AWS) is limited because of the small number of stations in this region. The creation of Antarctic satellite composite images in 1992 has allowed for a comprehensive compilation of weather data around the continent and surrounding areas from a hemispheric view. In this study, ten years of Antarctic composite satellite images from 1992-2002 are examined for poleward propagating weather systems in West Antarctica. These larg