Meteorological observations at Syowa Station and at Dome Fuji Station in 2003 by the 44th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition

This report describes the results of meteorological observations at Syowa Station from February 1st, 2003 to January 31st, 2004, and at Dome Fuji Station from February 1st, 2003 to January 20th, 2004, carried out by the Meteorological Observation Team of the 44th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-44). The observation methods, instruments and statistical methods used by the JARE-44 were almost the same as those used by the JARE-43 observation team. Remarkable weather phenomena observed during the period of JARE-44 are as follows.1) Annual mean surface temperature in 2003 at Syowa Station was-9.0℃, which was the second highest value in the historical record of Syowa Station. The number of snow days in 2003 at Syowa Station was 233 days, which set a record at Syowa Station.2) The amount of total ozone over Syowa Station became lower than or equal to 220 m atm-cm in mid-August, and was close to the minimum levels from September to October. The monthly means of total ozone in June and September at Syowa Station were the lowest values since the beginning of monitoring. The ozone hole in 2003 appeared earlier than usual. The annual maximum in the ozone mass deficiency and the ozone hole area were the second largest and the largest, respectively.3) The mean surface temperature in the wintering period (Feb., 2003-Jan., 2004) at Dome Fuji Station was-53.8℃; the lowest temperature was-79.6℃ observed on July 23rd.