The freezer suits last weekend certainly got a workout. Whilst observing
with Andrew Murrell and Rod Berry, I noted the temperature had dropped down
to +0.4C and has been reported in this forum recently, it is not uncommon for
observers at these latitudes to be observing in sub-zero temperatures at this
time of year.
The Bureau of Meteorology web site has links to Antarctic weather
which can always be interesting to look at this time of the year around
the winter solstice.
If you have been coming in from a night's observing of late and think it has
been cold, consider for a moment what it would be like at "Dome A" where just
in the last 24 hours the minimum temperature was a reported -69.4C. Last week
it was a jaw dropping -77C. You can check out the Dome A temperature graph here -
http://www.aad.gov.au/weather/aws/dome-a/index.html
It can also be fascinating looking at the webcams at the Antarctic bases.
For example, take a took at this timelapse movie taken from Mawson Base
yesterday. Watch the local time in the top left and watch the sun rise and
just skim over the horizon followed later at night with the glow of the Moon -
http://www.aad.gov.au/webcams/mawson/timelapse.mpg
And you thought the day was short in Sydney.
A live webcam image from Mawson can be found here with links to webcams
to other bases appearing on the same page -
http://www.aad.gov.au/asset/webcams/mawson/default.asp
So next time you are out observing in the cold, take heart with the fact that 'cold' is
only a relative thing.
