Windin Wright Dry Valley

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31871, 26 December 1968, Page 14

Windin Wright Dry Valley

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) SCOTT BASE, Dec. 24. The first thing a newcomer notices when visiting New Zealand’s Vanda Station in the Wright Dry Valley, is the almost continual wind —a wind which blows up microscopic dust particles and makes working conditions unpleasant.

The wind generally blows from early morning until midnight, or later and most of

the time averages 15 to 25 knots, according to the acting meteorological observer, Mr A. Bromley, of Wellington. “So far, calm has been experienced only during the early morning—and then only for a short time,” he said, Mr Bromley will return to Scott Base on January 6, to allow the return to New Zealand of the first winteringover meteorologist, Mr R. Craig, also of Wellington, who arrived at Vanda Station last week.

Meteorological observations began at Vanda Station on November 23—since when the predominant wind has

been from the east, and the highest gust recorded at 48 knots. The New Zealand Meteorological Service takes threehourly readings at the station, consisting of temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, barometric pressure, cloud, and general weather conditions. Reports are coded and radioed to Scott Base every six hours, passed on to the United States Weather Bureau at McMurdo Station, and from there sent out on an international network.

During the next few weeks, further equipment—including a radiometer, and two satellite screens containing recording thermometers—will

be set un several miles from Vanda Station to give a better general picture of conditions in the valley. Humidities have been very low since November 25 mainly between 15 and 40 per cent for westerly conditions, and between 50 and 70 per cent for easterly conditions. Air temperatures were cool during the last week of November but as high as 40 degrees during the last few days. There has been one day of snow so far this month.