Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2000-01: VUWAE 45

Mount Feather:

Mount Feather:

We experienced mainly poor weather conditions at Mt. Feather (ground-level, dense cloud and much blowing snow), but there is a very clear pattern to the weather there. Mornings are often clear or partly cloudy with good visibility, but by 11 am cloud builds up at ground level (2500 m), dropping visibility to 20-50 m and completely preventing any helo activity. This weather is local to Mt. Feather, however, and during brief glimpses through the cloud we could see that adjacent valleys (Ferrar, Taylor) were largely clear. Mt. Feather is so high that it produces its own weather (a summit cloud). We received several heavy snowfalls during our stay there and temperatures hovered around −18 to −20°C. Winds were often <25 kts and blew exclusively from the north/northeast - this is uncommon for Mt. Feather where the winds are often much stronger and southerly.