Hourly measurements of wind, temperature, and humidity were made between elevations of 1 and 20 m in the coastal area of Adélie Land over a period of 45 d in January and February 1978. About 1000 profiles are available.

The height of the constant flux layer is >5 m despite the influence of katabatic winds, the wind profile is logarithmic with a mean standard deviation from the logarithmic law of 15 mm s−1. The potential temperature profile is also logarithmic with a mean standard deviation of 0.04°C. The most important deviation from the logarithmic law appears between -4 and 0°C.

Humidity was measured at two points only, between 1 and 20 m; the mean gradient was about 0.01 mbar m−1 and the flux of latent heat was generally negligible.

Net radiation was measured for only 10 d because of radiometer failure. All the fluxes are calculated using data for the 5 m layer. For the 10 d period, the heat loss was about 3 Wm−2 with a mean heat flux of -27.5 Wm−2 and mean net radiation of -10.5 Wm−2(the minus sign signifying the flux is towards the surface). In general, the heat flux is towards the surface (92% of the cases) but is away from the surface in the afternoon. The ablation during the 10 d period without snow-fall was about 200 mm of ice.