Observations of the circulation of winds in the Wright Valley using an acoustic sounder, pilot balloons and airsondes

This results in winds which alternate between westerlies and easterlies in the Wright Valley. The aim of this study was to investigate the summer wind circulation at Lake Vanda in the Wright Valley using both observational and modelling approaches.

This work was carried out with a view to classifying the wind system on the basis of the forcing mechanisms and to gain an understanding of the processes producing the system. This project involved making detailed observations of the circulation using an acoustic sounder, pilot balloons and airsondes. A surface based observational network including anemographs, temperature, radiation and humidity sensors was installed in the Wright Valley in late October and monitoring was continued until late January.