ANTARCTICA SECTION 23 CLIMATE

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06070749
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 54
• Document Creation Date: January 17, 2025
• Document Release Date: December 17, 2024
• Case Number: F-2023-01655
• Publication Date: January 1, 1956

Approved for Release: 2024/12/12 C06070749
CONFIDENTIAL
CHAPTER II
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY
ANTARCTICA
SECTION 23
CLIMATE
APPROVED FOR RELEASE
BY: DiPA 0
DATE: J pi* y /U�
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Washington, D. C.
NIS 69
iky)
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved for Release: 2024/12/12 C06070749
Approved for Release: 2024/12/12 C06070749
�
WARNING
This document contains information affecting the national defense of
the United States, within the meaning of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794,
of the U. S. Code, as amended. Its transmission or revelation of its
contents to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
GPO-DSSO-5572
Approved for Release: 2024/12/12 C06070749
Approved for Release: 2024/12/12 C06070749
NAVY � JANUARY 1956
NIS 69
CON IDENTIAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR SECTION 23
A. Climatic controls
Page
23- 1
1. General
23
- 1
2. Pressure distribution
23
- 1
3. Air masses and zones of interaction
23
- 4
a. Air masses
23
- 4
(1) Polar continental air
23
- 4
(2) Antarctic continental air
23
- 4
(3) Antarctic maritime air
23
- 4
(4) Polar maritime air
23
- 4
b. Zones of interaction
23
- 5
4. Maritime and continental influences
23
- 5
B. Surface winds
23- 6
1. Region of the continental high
23- 7
2. Region of the westerlies
23
- 9
C. Surface air temperatures
23
- 10
D. Precipitation .
23
- 12
1. Region of the continental high
23
- 12
2. Region of the westerlies
23
- 13
E. Cloudiness
23
- 13
1. Region of the continental high
23
- 14
2. Region of the westerlies
23
- 15
F. Visibility
23
- 19
1. Region of the continental high
23
- 19
2. Region of the westerlies
23
- 20
G: Special weather phenomena
23
- 20
1. Extratropical cyclones
23.- 20
2. Thunderstorms .......... .
23
- 24
3: Waterspouts
23
- 25
4. Optical phenomena
23
- 25
H. Upper air
23
- 26
1. Winds aloft
23
- 26
2. Temperature and humidity aloft
23
- 27
I. Weather and military operations
23,- 28
CONF3DENTIAL
1. Surface operations 23 - 28
a. Continental 23 - 28
23 - 31
b. Maritime
PAGE 23-i
Approved for Release: 2024/12/12 C06070749
Approved for Release: 2024/12/12 C06070749
CONE DENTIAL
gr
MILITARY GEOGRAPHY NAVY-JANUARY 1956
Page
2. Carrier operations
23
- 33
a. Preparation of planes for flight
23
- 33
b. Launching and recovery
23
-33
3. Military air operations
23
-33
a. Flying conditions in the ice-shelf regions
23
- 34
b. Aircraft icing
23
- 34
c. Meteorological facilities
23
- 34
d. Air navigation
23
- 35
e. Seaplanes
23
- 35
f. Helicopters . .. .
23
- 35
g. Landing on sea ice
23
- 36
h. Maintenance of landing strip
23
- 36
i. Snowblink and white-out
23
-36
J.
List of sources
23
- 36
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Fig. 23-1
Chart
Mean sea level pressure, February
23 - 2
Fig. 23-2
Fig. 23-3
Chart
Chart
Mean sea level pressure, August
,
Winds ..--- force 3 and -. force 8, February
23 - 3
23 - 6
Fig. 23-4
Chart
Winds ---.= force 3 and --- force 8, May
23 - 7
Fig. 23-5
Chart
Winds =- force 3 and ---. force 8, August
23 - 8
Fig. 23-6
Chart
Winds -- force 3 and --"- force 8, November
23 - 9
Fig. 23-7
Chart
Total cloud amount 0 to 2-tenths and 8- to
23 - 15
10-tenths, February
Fig. 23-8
Chart
Total cloud amount 0 to 2-tenths and 8- to
23 - 16
10-tenths, May
Fig. 23-9
Chart
Total cloud amount 0 to 2-tenths and 8- to
23 - 17
10-tenths, August
Fig. 23-10
Chart
Total cloud amount 0 to 2-tenths and 8- to
23 - 18
'10-tenths, November
Fig. 23-11
Chart
Extratropical cyclones, February
23 - 21
Fig. 23-12
Chart
Extratropical cyclones, May
23 - 22
Fig. 23-13
Chart
Extratropical cyclones, August
23 - 23
Fig. 23-14
Chart
Extratropical cyclones, November
23 - 24
Fig. 23-15
Table
Daily hours of daylight for specified latitudes
23 - 30
Fig. 23-16
Charts
Wind roses, January through June follows 23 - 38
Fig.- 23-17
Charts
Wind roses, July through December
do
Fig. 23-18
Charts
Air temperature and frequency distribution
do
Fig. 23-19
Charts
Air-sea temperature differences
do -
Fig. ,23-20
Charts
Precipitation and snow, January through
�
December
do
Fig. 23-21
Charts
Total and low cloud amounts ,
do
Fig. 23-22
Charts
Visibility