Intra-island variation in wind patterns on sub-Antarctic Marion Island

Abstract

Sub-Antarctic Marion Island provides a critical habitat for pelagic species, yet its terrestrial ecosystem faces increasing threats from climate change. Despite being situated in one of the windiest regions globally, the impact of changing wind patterns at the intra-island scale remains poorly understood. Existing datasets lack the spatial resolution necessary to capture fine-scale wind dynamics across the island. This study aimed to address this gap by presenting high-resolution wind speed and direction data to investigate the effects of wind on terrestrial systems. We present two complementary datasets: (1) wind measurements collected from 17 stations distributed across the island between May 2018 and March 2021, and (2) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations providing wind vectors and associated properties at a 30 × 30 m resolution for heights up to 200 m above ground level. The data reveal significant differences in wind speed and direction across different geographical sectors of Marion Island. Notably, anemometers situated in the south recorded more frequent gale-force winds, while the western stations experienced calmer conditions. By using the observed wind direction frequencies, a weighted average vector plot was generated from the CFD simulations, providing an island-scale representation of spatial wind patterns across the island. These datasets offer valuable insights into variations in wind patterns, including upstream and downstream effects, and serve as a crucial resource for studying wind-driven processes affecting the landscape and ecosystem, such as seed dispersal.