On Antarctic pressure variations

Abstract The numerous stations which operated in Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year allow a more detailed study of the local distribution and of the displacements of pressure variations. From six‐hourly pressure data the times of occurrence of identifiable extremes have been determined. They are mostly later at the more westerly stations. For 15 months and seven stations, cross‐correlations of six‐hourly pressure values have been calculated for lags of multiples of six hours between 60 and — 60 hours. The correlations are in most cases highest for pressures at the eastern before the western station. The same result is found if six‐hourly and twenty‐four hourly pressure changes at different stations are correlated instead of the pressures themselves. No correlations of the same size occur if between Little America and Wilkes pressures and pressure changes at a station are correlated with later ones at a more easterly location. The existence and importance of Simpson's ‘antarctic pressure waves’ is thus confirmed.