Climatic conditions of the north−western part of Oscar II Land (Spitsbergen) in the period between 1975 and 2000

Abstract

The paper describes climatic conditions of the north−western part of Oscar II Land (Spitsbergen) based on meteorological data from 1975 to 2000, which were taken from Ny Ålesund and Kaffiöyra−Heggodden stations. The changes in annual courses of main climatic elements are investigated. However, the authors focused mainly on the analysis of summer climate, because most of the field work is conducted at this time of the year. Aside from the standard climatic analysis, the influence of atmospheric circulation on selected meteorological elements was also investigated. The climate of the north−western part of Oscar II Land was compared with the climates of the remaining areas of the western coast of Spitsbergen. It was found that the climate of the studied area differs considerably from the climate of the central−inner and southern parts of the western coast of Spitsbergen (areas represented by the Svalbard Lufthavn and Hornsund stations respectively). The differences in climatic elements, however, are not stable throughout the year and in particular seasons and months can even change signs. Thus, any generalisation of results obtained based on seasonal data is inadmissible. It was also found that the wind conditions of the Kaffiöyra region are more representative of the north−western part of Oscar II Land than are the wind conditions of the Ny Ålesund region.