Temporal and spatial variability of the surface energy balance in Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica

[1] We present data of nine Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), which are located in Dronning Maud Land (DML), East Antarctica, since the austral summer of 1997. Potential temperature and wind speed are maximum at the sites with the steepest surface slope, i.e., at the edge of the Antarctic plateau. Specific humidity and accumulation decrease with elevation and distance from the coast. The annual average energy gain at the surface from the downward sensible heat flux varies between similar to3 W m(-2) and similar to25 W m(-2), with the highest values at the sites with the largest surface inclination and wind speeds. The net radiative flux is negative and largely balances this sensible heat flux and ranges from similar to-2 W m(-2) to similar to-28 W m(-2); maximum values can be linked to maxima in surface slope and wind speed, and suggest a strong connection between the heat budget and the katabatic flow in DML. The average latent heat flux is generally small and negative (similar to-1 W m(-2)) indicating a slight net mass loss through sublimation.