The climate in the King George Island is dominated by the frequent succession of low pressure systems which leads to a highly maritime climate. On the basis of meteorological observation,it is obtained that the surface temperature lapses in summer and winter are nearly the same,about 0 65℃/100m on the ice cap,and temperature jump is around 0.3℃. The mean annual temperature of the ice cap is relatively high,and at equilibrium-line altitude(ELA) is -3.5℃. However,since the annual temperature difference is small,the summer temperature is lower,average temperature from December to February is 0℃ at ELA. In addition,the ice cap is highly cloudy,foggy and humid that the snow surface received low amount of radiation. This heat condition is favorable to ice cap existing since it results in weak summer melt. There is relatively plentiful precipitation on Collins Ice Cap. The precipitation is 800mm at ELA,and increases rapidly with elevation,at the summit of the main dome,may over 2000mm. Most annual precipitation is solid on the ice cap,which is the mass base of glacier existing.
