VIII. METEOROLOGY 



Air temperatures dropped steadily during May and June reaching their 

 lowest values in early July when on three successive days (6, 7, and 8 

 July) temperatures of -67°, -72°, and -68 C F. were observed at the icehole. 

 The lowest air temperature observed at the main base was -59°F. on 8 July 

 196 0. Table 13 shows daily maximum and minimum air temperatures, peak 

 gusts (high), and average wind velocities for NAF McMurdo during the 

 period of oceanographic observation. Figure 25 shows minimum air tempera- 

 tures at NAF McMurdo, and minimum observed air temperatures at the icehole. 

 A minimum thermometer was not installed until late in the winter, and the 

 figures given as observed minima for the main part include only the mini- 

 mum for the day on which work was being done at the icehole. The figures 

 for March 1960 were taken from minima recorded at NAF McMurdo on days 

 when there was appreciable wind. It was noted that temperatures at NAF 

 McMurdo and at the icehole were almost identical on windy days, whereas, 

 during calm periods, the air temperatures were from 15 to 20 degrees 

 colder at the icehole. This great difference in only three miles distance 

 was explained by the sea level elevation of the icehole compared with an 

 elevation of around 100 feet for the meteorological station at NAF McMurdo. 

 On some days when there was a fairly strong wind blowing in camp, compara- 

 tive calm existed on the ice south of the Gap. On rarer occasions, the 

 reverse occurred. Most storms during the winter came from the south or 

 southeast., A wind from the north usually was followed by stormy weather 

 and a shift in the wind direction toward the south. Winds from the south- 

 west or west were rare occurrences. 



