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Analysis of institutional authors

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February 13, 2023
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Article

Extreme precipitation records in Antarctica

Publicated to:INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY. 43 (7): 3125-3138 - 2023-06-15 43(7), DOI: 10.1002/joc.8020

Authors: González-Herrero, S.; Vasallo, F.; Bech, J.; Gorodetskaya, I.; Elvira, B.; Justel, A.

Affiliations

Spanish Meteorol Agcy AEMET, Antarctic Grp, Madrid, Spain - Author
Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Dept Math, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Aveiro, Ctr Environm & Marine Studies CESAM, Dept Phys, Aveiro, Portugal - Author
Univ Barcelona, Dept Appl Phys Meteorol, Barcelona, Spain - Author
Univ Barcelona, Water Res Inst, Barcelona, Spain - Author
Univ Porto, Interdisciplinary Ctr Marine & Environm Res CIIMA, Matosinhos, Portugal - Author
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Author
Universidade de Aveiro , CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research - Author
Universitat de Barcelona - Author
WSL - Institut für Schnee- und Lawinenforschung SLF - Davos , Universitat de Barcelona , Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) - Author
WSL Inst Snow & Avalanche Res SLF, Davos, Switzerland - Author
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Abstract

Monitoring extreme precipitation records (EPRs), that is, the most extreme precipitation events, is a challenge in Antarctica due to the reduced number of stations available in the continent and the limitations of the instrumentation for measuring solid precipitation. Still, extreme precipitation events may contribute substantially to the variability of ice sheet snow accumulation and even may cause important ecological impacts. This article presents the Antarctic EPRs at different temporal scales, studying the relationship between precipitation amount and temporal duration through a power scaling law, ranging from 1 day to 2 years. This is achieved using precipitation datasets from the ERA5 reanalysis and the RACMO2 regional climate model. Moreover, we present a selection of EPRs case studies examining the synoptic mechanisms that produce such events in Antarctica. Despite ERA5 EPRs are usually lower than those found in RACMO2, they present similar scaling exponents. EPRs are found in Loubet and south Graham Coasts, in the central section of the Antarctic Peninsula, and in the north of Alexander Island, where orographic enhancement increases precipitation amounts. As expected, Antarctic EPRs are much lower than world-wide EPRs, ranging from 6 to 10% at short temporal scales (from 1 to 10 days) and from 10 to 20% at long temporal scales (from 90 days to 2 years) in ERA5. Regional variability of extreme precipitation scaling exponents show similar spatial patterns than previously calculated precipitation concentration. On the other hand, the lack of summer events in Antarctic EPRs evidences that stronger fluxes in winter play a key role on extreme precipitation during EPR events, which are mainly produced by long-range transport of moisture by atmospheric rivers impinging on Antarctic mountains.

Keywords

accumulationatmospheric riversclimateeventsextreme precipitationice-sheetmodelsrainfallrepresentationscaling lawweather recordsAntarcticaAtmospheric riversExtreme precipitationScaling lawSurface mass-balanceWeather records

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 41/110, thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q2 para la agencia Scopus (SJR) en la categoría Atmospheric Science.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 6.31, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-04, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 3
  • Scopus: 9

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-04:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 19.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 19 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 7.1.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 10 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://repositorio.uam.es/handle/10486/708466

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Portugal; Switzerland.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: Last Author (JUSTEL EUSEBIO, ANA MARIA).