Observations of blowing snow at the South Pole

Observations of blowing snow from visual observers' records as well as ground‐based infrared and lidar measurements at South Pole Station are analyzed to obtain the first climatology of blowing snow over the Antarctic Plateau. Occurrence frequencies of blowing snow, wind direction and speed during blowing snow events, typical snow layer heights, as well as optical depths are determined. Blowing snow is recorded in roughly one third of the visual observations and occurs under a narrow range of wind directions. Blowing snow layers are usually less than 400 m in thickness but can exceed 1000 m. During blowing snow conditions, these near‐surface layers are apparent in lidar backscatter profiles. These layers emit radiances similar to those from optically thin clouds frequently seen over the Antarctic Plateau. Because the near‐surface blowing snow layers are frequently present, they are a factor in space‐borne laser altimetry and other satellite remote sensing.