NOAA satellite observation in the Antarctic

The NOAA Satellite AVHRR data received at Syowa Station offer simultaneous images on 5 wavelengths covering an area 2000km on a side with resolution of 1km, and are useful for helping to clarify a number of phenomena. The AVHRR is a radiometer which observes in 4 or 5 channels covering the visible and infrared regions. Phenomena in the atmosphere and at the snow surface can be studied from the AVHRR data. Data are received from at least one orbit per day and are of uniform quality. The following analysis are carried out. Results of the following analyses are summarized in this report. 1) Analysis using the time sequence of infrared channel data, 2) Detection of the katabatic wind information, 3) Detection of the ice sheet surface and snow accumulation information