The data file "stake_SMB_observations_Vostok.xls" contains 4 data sheets: VSFann - time series of annual SMB observations in the Vostok stake farm; VSFmon - time series of monthly SMB observations in the Vostok stake farm; VFL - multi-year mean SMB derived from stake observations along the Vostok-Flow-Line profile; NVFL - multi-year mean SMB derived from stake observations along the Northern-Vostok-Flow-Line profile. Vostok stake farm (VSF) ----------------------- The VSF is located about 1.5 km north of Vostok station, East Antarctica, and consists of 79 stakes spaced every 25 m, forming an equilateral cross of 1 km × 1 km approximately aligned in the cardinal directions. The south, north, east and west extremes of the polygon have the following coordinates (latitude, longitude; in decimal degree): -78.4568, 106.8184 -78.4482, 106.8071 -78.4512, 106.8349 -78.4540, 106.7910. Data Sheet VSFann ----------------- Contains 2 columns: 1. Calendar year 2. Mean annual surface mass balance (SMB) in unit [kg m⁻² a⁻¹]. The SMB values represent the mean value of the 79 individual stakes that conform the VSF. At each stake the local snow height is measured at a yearly interval (every late December). At each observation epoch, near every fifth stake the density of the uppermost 20 cm snow layer is measured. The surface mass balance (SMB) is derived from the snow height difference between two consecutive readings, applying the mean snow density averaged over all measurements in the stake farm at this epoch. In addition, an empirical generalized densification correction of 8±4% (Ekaykin et al., 2020) is applied. Data Sheet VSFmon ----------------- Contains 3 columns: 1. Calendar year 2. Calendar month 3. Mean monthly SMB in unit [kg m⁻² a⁻¹]. The SMB values represent the mean value of the 79 individual stakes that conform the VSF. At each stake the local snow height is measured at a monthly interval (the 29th of each month ±3 days). At each observation epoch, near every fifth stake the density of the uppermost 20 cm snow layer is measured. The surface mass balance (SMB) is derived from the snow height difference between two consecutive readings, applying the mean snow density averaged over all measurements in the stake farm at this epoch. In addition, an empirical generalized densification correction of 8±4% (Ekaykin et al., 2020) is applied. Note that the sum of monthly SMB observations over one year may differ from the corresponding annual SMB value (data sheet VSFann) because the snow densities observed in late December do not necessarily coincide with the average of all monthly density measurements during that year. Data Sheet VFL -------------- Contains 7 columns: 1. Latitude (in decimal degree) of each stake 2. Longitude (in decimal degree) of each stake 3. Calendar month of the first stake reading 4. Calendar year of the first stake reading 5. Calendar month of the second stake reading 6. Calendar year of the second stake reading 7. Mean SMB between the epochs of both readings in unit [kg m⁻² a⁻¹]. The VFL stake profile extends over 107 km approximately along the ice flowline through Vostok station (VSF) upflow towards Ridge B. The profile consists of 89 stakes, spaced every 1 km along the easternmost 60 km and the westernmost 10 km of the profile, and every 2 km between kilometers 60 and 96. SMB values are reported for each individual stake, representing the mean SMB between the epochs of two readings (approximate interval 7 years). The snow density of the uppermost 20 cm was measured at every stake. In addition, an empirical generalized densification correction of 8±4% (Ekaykin et al., 2020) is applied. Data Sheet NVFL --------------- Contains 7 columns: 1. Latitude (in decimal degree) of each stake 2. Longitude (in decimal degree) of each stake 3. Calendar month of the first stake reading 4. Calendar year of the first stake reading 5. Calendar month of the second stake reading 6. Calendar year of the second stake reading 7. Mean SMB between the epochs of both readings in unit [kg m⁻² a⁻¹]. The NVFL stake profile extends over 188 km approximately along an ice flowline from the NW grounding line of Lake Vostok up to Ridge B. The profile consists of 94 stakes, spaced every 2 km. SMB values are reported for each individual stake, representing the mean SMB between the epochs of two readings (approximate interval 4 years). The snow density of the uppermost 20 cm was measured at the easternmost 10 stakes (20 km), and from there upflow at every fifth stake. Based on these measured densities an empirical relationship between the density and the E-W profile length is derived and applied to interpolate the snow density for the westernmost 84 stakes. In addition, an empirical generalized densification correction of 8±4% (Ekaykin et al., 2020) is applied. References ---------- Barkov, N. I. and Lipenkov, V. Y. (1978). Snow Accumulation in the Area of Vostok Station in 1971-1973. Informatsionnyi Bulleten’ SAE 98. Ekaykin, A. A., Lipenkov, V. Y., and Shibaev, Y. A. (2012). Spatial distribution of the snow accumulation rate along the ice flow lines between Ridge B and Lake Vostok. Ice & Snow 4, 122-128. Ekaykin, A. A., Teben’kova, N. A., Lipenkov, V. Y., Tchikhatchev, K. B., Veres, A. N., and Richter, A. (2020). Underestimation of snow accumulation rate in central Antarctica (Vostok Station) derived from stake measurements. Russian Meteorology and Hydrology 45, 132-140. Richter, A., Ekaykin, A.A., Willen, M.O., Lipenkov, V.Ya., Groh, A., Popov, S.V., Scheinert, M., Horwath, M., Dietrich, R. (2021). Surface mass balance models vs. stake observations: A comparison in the Lake Vostok region, central East Antarctica. Forniers in Earth Science.