Meteorological and biometeorological conditions in the Hornsund region (Western Spitsbergen) in 2009

W artykule zostały zaprezentowane rezultaty pomiarów meteorologicznych przeprowadzonych w południowej części Ziemi Wedela Jarlsberga, SW Spitsbergen w roku 2009. Pomiary były prowadzone na czterech stanowiskach: na terasie morskiej (PSP), morenie bocznej lodowca (WER) i na lodowcu: w strefie akumulacji (HT9) i poniżej linii równowagi (HT4). Informacje o wartościach elementów meteorologicznych zostały wykorzystane do oceny warunków biotermiczno-meteorologicznych jakie występowały w tych typach terenu. W tym celu przeanalizowano wartości wskaźnika ochładzania wiatrem (WCI), temperatury odczuwalnej (STI) oraz poszczególnych strumieni wymiany ciepła między człowiekiem a otoczeniem.Presented paper is focused on the meteorological and biometeorological conditions observed in south part of the Wedel Jarslberg Land (SW Spitsbergen) in 2009. Meteorological data used in presented study were collected in four locations: at the Polish Polar Station (PSP: 77.00159°N 15.54131°E, 10 m a.s.l.), lateral moraine of Werenskiold Glacier (WER: 77.07101°N, 15.17852°E, 31 m a.s.l.), middle part of Hans Glacier below equlibium line (HT4: 77.04738°N, 15.63275°E, 180 m a.s.l.) and accumulation’s zone of Hans Glacier (HT9: 77.11656°N, 15.48781°E, 430 m a.s.l.). The average air temperature registered in 2009 was -2.7°C and it is one of the warmest year from starting of the meteorological observations at the Polish Polar Station in 1978. The last two months (November and December) were exceptional: with almost 6°C higher monthly average of air temperature (in comparison with average from 1983 to 2006). Meteorological data as: air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and solar irradiation were used for calculating the following biometeorological indexes: wind chill index (WCI), subjective temperature index (according to Błażejczyk; STI), man-environment heat exchange fluxes (mC, mE, mRes), radiation and total heat exchange balances (mQ, mS). A significant variety of the biometeorological stimuli at investigated area were observed: in lateral moraine (WER) the most often “comfortable” conditions occurred – up to 34% of the time of August – if wind chill index is taken into account – while this class of thermal feelings at HT4 location is rare (less than 1% of the time of August). The high value of negative heat balance of man exposed to meteorological conditions at the Hans glacier during winter could be danger for human body, if no special arctic wear is used