An evaluation of the meteorology and climatology of West Antarctica through the use of Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS) output and self-organizing maps (SOMs)

West Antarctica has become a region of central importance for a number of scientific projects. Unfortunately the meteorology and climatology of the region is not as well understood as other parts of Antarctica. This is especially true in comparison to the Ross Ice Shelf region. This study will evaluate patterns and frequency of occurrence of sea-level pressure, precipitation, and the low-level wind field across the West Antarctic region. The analysis will be done using the method of self-organizing maps (SOMs) and the archived output from the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS). The results will indicate dominant synoptic and mesoscale patterns which contribute to the meteorology and climatology of West Antarctica.