Lower tropospheric transport over the Southern Ocean

Radon and particle concentrations obtained at Macquarie Island, halfway between Australia and Antarctica, and on Tasmania's north-west coast at Cape Grim during 1987 are examined. Four-day trajectories based on 12 hourly analyses over the Australian region are used to explore the transport of continental material across the Southern Ocean. This study suggests that at least 25% of the variance of radon concentration at Macquarie Island can be accounted for by transport from the Australian continent. Trajectories at intervals of one hour are used to demonstrate the agreement between episodes of trajectories passing over land and episodes of elevated radon and particle concentration. Wind roses of percentage probability of various levels of radon and particle concentration are compared with back trajectories for their accuracy in depicting episodes of continental air incursion.