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Kangerlussuaq is located just north of the Arctic Circle, at the head of the 140 km long fjord Kangerlussuaq , at 67°01'N 50°41'W. Kangerlussuaq is the main airport for traffic to/from Greenland. The town of Kangerlussuaq has a population of c. 450 and it provides all the facilities that can be expected in a modern town.
In order to stimulate and attract international research interest in arctic science the Greenland Home Rule established KISS in 1994 as a science support facility in Kangerlussuaq. The facility is owned by the Greenland Home Rule, and operated by the Greenland Civil Aviation Department. KISS lies in a dry, low arctic area with diverse habitats such as heaths, salt lakes, dune systems and mountain tundra and with a rich population of caribou and muskoxen.
(information from the
Danish Polar Center
) web site.
Page header photo above by Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC Courtesy of NASA Visible Earth |
| Location | ||||
| Description: | Due to its location far inland, Kangerlussuaq has a very stable climate with warm, dry summers and cold winters. The animal life is abundant and just a few kilometres from the airport, you may encounter some of the more than 3,500 musk oxen that inhabit the region. Unique for Greenland, there is a road leading all the way to the ice cap. It is possible to hike, cycle or ride in or drive an off-roader up to the impressive edge of the ice. The proximity of the Greenland Ice Sheet presents unique opportunities for studies on the ice sheet edge zone. | |||
| Altitude in feet: | 165 | |||
| Altitude in meters: | 50.3 | |||
| Latitude (Decimal, Degreesºmm'ss") : | 67.018º N 67º 01' 05" N | |||
| Longitude (Decimal, Degreesºmm'ss") : | 50.6941º W 50º 41' 39" W | |||
| Environment Types Accessible at this Location | ||||
| Sea ice, Glacier, Coastal, Interior, Riparian, Wetland, Lake, Tundra | ||||
| Local History and Culture | ||||
| Description: | Kangerlussuaq is a former US airbase built in 1941, after Greenland's security was entrusted to the United States of America by the Danish Ambassador during Denmark's occupation by German forces, then turned over to Greenland's Home Rule in the 1990s. Today, the airport is the gateway to most of Greenland as well as being the workplace for its slightly less than 600 inhabitants. Kangerlussuaq International Science Support Center (KISS) is owned by Greenland Home Rule Government and operated by Mittarfeqarfiit (Greenland Civil Aviation Department). Danish Polar Center is responsible for the dissemination of information about KISS and assists in handling of bookings. KISS was founded n the 1993 by Mittarfeqarfiit and Danish Polar Center. Greenland Home Rule government operates the airport and also the Kangerlussuaq International Science Support Center. KISS serves as a base for international science in Greenland, with scores of American and European scientists passing through each year to run science camps. Kangerlussuaq area had never been populated, though the fjord had been used as summer sealing and fishing grounds. | |||
| Primary Logistics Provider | ||||
| Name and title of contact person: | Basse Vængtoft, Manager | |||
| Organization: | Kangerlussauq International Science Support (KISS) | |||
| Address: | Box 109 DK- 3910 Kangerlussuaq Greenland | |||
| Telephone: | +299-841104 ext 76452 | |||
| Fax: | +299-841472 | |||
| E-mail: | bvn@greennet.gl | |||
| Contact person or agency web page: | http://www.dpc.dk/Res&Log/ProjectPlanner/Platforms/Kangerlussuaq.html | |||
| Comments: | KISS is owned and operated by the Greenland Home Rule. However, the Danish Polar Center has been delegated the specific task to function as a liaison between Mittarfeqarfiit and the science communities in order to distribute information about KISS and to funnel researchers requirements and comments to the operator. | |||
| Primary Management Agency | ||||
| Organization: | Mittarfeqarfiit (Greenland Civil Aviation Department) and Danish Polar Center | |||
| Availability and Cost | ||||
| Availability: | KISS is open for scientists throughout the year. | |||
| Permits and Legal Issues | ||||
| Permit(s) required: | All research groups must have proper permits from the Danish Polar Center and Greenland Home Rule Government. | |||
| Radio permit information: | Carrying Personal Locator Beacons and other radio equipment in Greenland requires a special license. Complete the Radio License application form (available at: http://www.dpc.dk/Res&Log/ProjectPlanner/Papers/Forms/Start.html ) and send it to the issuing authority: TELE Greenland Radio Administration P.O. Box 504, DK-3920 Qaqortoq, Greenland Tel.: +299 64 31 22 Fax: +299 64 31 23 Email: rfv@tele.gl no later than 3 months prior to the start of your project or expedition. Upon issuing the licence TELE Greenland will send a copy to Danish Polar Center. | |||
| Insurance required: | For detailed information on insurance. ( http://www.dpc.dk/Res&Log/ProjectPlanner/Safety/Start.html#insurance ) | |||
| Permitting agency web page: | http://www.dpc.dk/Res&Log/ProjectPlanner/Start.html | |||
| Physical Access | ||||
| Airstrip, Bus, Helicopter, Seaport, Air service | ||||
| Airstrip description: | Kangerlussuaq Airport is situated about 50 km north of the Arctic Circle, 4,000 km from Northern Europe. Its position is 67° 00' N and 50° 45' W. It lies at the end of 180-km-long Kangerlussuaq, which means "The Great Fjord". The main runway is 2813x60 m (9229x197 feet) and made of asphalt. Kangerlussuaq Lufthavn Mittarfeqarfit Greenland Airport Authority Box 1006 DK-3910 Kangerlussuaq, Grønland Tel.: +299-1841300 Fax: +299-1841360 Telex: 90838 Telefax: +299-841039 kangerlussuaq@glv.gl http://www.glv.gl/ | |||
| Accessibility: | Several commercial airlines fly into Kangerlussuaq. A city bus operates within the city boundaries of Kangerlussuaq. Local transport outside the city boundaries is either by car, hiking or biking. Helicopter chartering is also a possibility. | |||
| Road: | The longest paved road in Greenland runs about 8 miles from the airport to the head of the fjord, where there is a small port. Tourists going on cruises along Greenland's coast fly into Kangerlussuaq and join their ships here. The Kangerlussuaq busses run according to posted schedules, primarily on the paved road system between the southern and northern part of Kangerlussuaq and mainly Monday-Friday 0600-1900 hours and Saturday morning. There is also a taxi available around the clock at phone 524502 and 524503. | |||
| Air service description: | Scheduled jet service is available to Kangerlussuaq from Ottawa, Canada via First Air or from Copenhagen, Denmark via Scandinavian Airlines. Greenlandair flies to and from Keflavik, Iceland, via Krlusuk, Greenland. Greenlandair also flies from Kangerlussuaq to other towns in Greenland, including the capital, Nuuk, and Ilullissat, which is a major tourist destination. | |||
| Other Local Resources | ||||
| Resource: | VECO Polar Resources | |||
| Contact information: | VECO is contracted to provide logistics for all NSF funded research projects in Greenland. VECO Polar Resources administrative offices are located in rooms 109 and 110 at the Kangerlussuaq International Science Support (KISS) facility. Administrative support services available: personal computer, copier, secure storage for documents and baggage, mail forwarding, emergency and business-related telephone calls, internet, fax, telex, UHF and VHF radios Remote camp support: daily telephone, email, radio or telex contact to remote sites, support flight scheduling, passenger and cargo movement, and emergency medical backup In-country travel arrangements: bookings for commercial domestic flights, arranging special fixed-wing or helicopter charters, and hotel information The Greenland Logistics Manager (office 109 in the KISS facility) provides a central point of contact and liaison with local and national governmental agencies and in-country vendors. Robin Abbott Mobile Tel.: 303-748-8507 Email: robin@polarfield.com VECO Polar Resources warehouses located in buildings 532 and 534 in Kangerlussuaqinclude some indoor storage, cold storage (to –20C), outside storage, a shipping and receiving center with packaging and labeling materials, freight forwarding, and receiving. Lodging and meals are provided for personnel participating in the current field season. All personnel are housed in the KISS facility. KISS has two person dormitory rooms with common baths. Meals are provided at the Polar Bear Inn. Food also can be purchased at a local store and prepared in the KISS facility kitchens. Please contact tom@polarfield.com or robin@polarfield.com for further information. | |||
| Resource: | Sondrestrom SRI | |||
| Contact information: | This is an upper atmospheric research facility funded by US National Science Foundation, Upper Atmospheric Facilities Program and operated and managed by Stanford Research Institute, SRI International. The centerpiece instrument of the facility is an L-band incoherent scatter (IS) radar with a 32m fully steerable antenna. The Sondrestrom facility is part of a global network of incoherent scatter radars and besides the principal radar instrument the facility also hosts a wide range of optical and radiowave instruments operated for universities and government labs. The facility is located close to Kangerlussuaq airport. http://isr.sri.com/index.html Principal Investigator Dr. Jeff Thayer Tel.: 650-859-3557 Fax: 650-321-2318 Sondrestrom Site Supervisor John Jørgensen Tel.: 299-841260 Logistics Coordinator Mary McCready Tel.: 650-859-5084 Fax: 650-321-2318 mccready@sri.com NSF Facility Contacts Program Director, Upper Atmospheric Facilities, NSF Dr. Robert M. Robinson Tel.: 703-306-1519 rmrobins@nsf.gov | |||
| Resource: | Accomodation and Dining | |||
| Contact information: | -Kangerlussuaq hostel "Old Camp", Boks 49, DK-3910 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (Tel.: +299-841098, Fax: +299-841498, Email: kangtour@greennet.gl , Web: http://www.greenland-guide.gl/kangerlussuaqtourism/old-camp.htm ) -Hotel Kangerlussuaq, Box 1006, DK-3910 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (Tel.: +299-841180, Fax: +299-841284, Email: bmj@glv.gl , Web: http://www.glv.gl/hoteller/ ) -Hotel Tuttu, DK-3910 Kangerlussuaq (Tel.: +299-841433, Fax: +299-841417) | |||
| Infrastructure | ||||
| Mail service, Electricity, Heat, Post office, Running water, Roads | ||||
| Mail service: | There is only general delivery of mail in Kangerlussuaq. KISS has its own mail box at the post office (situated in block L) adjacent to the airport hotel building. The Post Office (841011) open hours are: Mon - Fri 0900 - 1500. Saturday and Sunday closed. However, mailboxes can be checked at all times. The correct mailing address to anyone at KISS is: [name] KISS P.O. Box 109 DK-3910 Kangerlussuaq Mail box 109 will be emptied once a day Monday - Saturday by the KISS manager and your mail will be available for personal pick-up in the KISS building. | |||
| Electricity specifications: | electrical power (110 V and 220-230 V, 60 Hz) | |||
| Communications and Data Systems | ||||
| Fax send/receive, Telephone system, Local area network (LAN), Internet access | ||||
| Network: | KISS has a modem-based satellite link to the Internet. The address is kiss@greennet.gl (please note that address is case sensitive). To cover the direct expenses the per-minute-charge for internet use is currently 1 DKK. Ask the KISS manager for details. Ordinary e-mail usage is free, but in case you or your project has a need to transfer large amounts of data frequently you should contact the KISS manager to arrange for an individual solution. The Internet is accessed through a dedicated PC located in room 102 opposite the manager's office at the ground floor. | |||
| Buildings | ||||
| Deep cold freezer, Refrigerated storage, Food service, Sanitation, Storage | ||||
| Buildings: | KISS has two buildings holding wet laboratory, dry laboratory, computer room with internet access, kitchen, mess, living room, conference room, toilets, showers, well-equipped workshop, offices and storage room. | |||
| Food service: | [From the KISS site]: Please remember to do your washing up, clean the tables and floor, and label your foods in the refrigirators and cupboards. Unlabeled items can be used by anyone at anytime. Don't use dishcloths to clean tables etc. because these cloths easily go stale. Instead, use paper towels. The 'Polar Bear Inn' (three blocks down the road from KISS) is the Kangerlussuaq staff's cafeteria and dining facility. To find out the current price of meals at the dining hall you will have to talk to the KISS manager. | |||
| Lodging: | Under normal conditions KISS can accommodate up to 56 persons. At special occassions it is however possible to extend the capacity 146 persons. | |||
| Storage: | KISS offers you free storage space in the designated storage rooms at the ground floor. You are welcome to leave your bags, boxes, containers, or equipment in any of the storage rooms for the period that you will be gone, but only after the manager has been notified and the items are clearly labelled with your name, home address, and date for your return to KISS. Please, do not store any perishable items. Stored items that are not picked up within three months following the labelled date of return will be disposed of by the manager. | |||
| Laboratory Space | ||||
| Electricity in lab space, Telephone in lab space, General use computers / printers in lab space, Internet access in lab space, E-mail send/receive in lab space, Wet lab, Dry lab, Drying oven, Workshop, Machine shop | ||||
| Lab space: | The laboratories are equipped with only very basic equipment such as ovens, scale, refrigerator and deep freezer. KISS is a branch of the Greenland Civil Aviation Department (Mittarfeqarfiit). Mittarfeqarfiit has a modern conference facility, auto shop, carpentry shop, electrical shop and a heavy equipment shop. Chemicals have to be stored away after use. KISS-owned equipment must be cleaned and left on the site allocated to it. You must clear and clean sinks, tables, and floor when you have finished your lab work or before that if accumulated material/litter appears to be a nuisance for other users. Material that you have taken to the labs must be removed from the labs after you are through using it. While personal equipment/material is being used in the labs, please leave a label with your name and room # on it to let the manager and colleagues know who is the owner. When your project is finished you are most welcome to leave any usable amount of chemical or material that you will not need to bring home. Remember, though, to label chemicals etc. and supply any necessary information as to their special purposes and/or handling; also inform the manager of your donation to KISS. | |||
| Personnel and Services | ||||
| Site manager: | KISS has a station manager situated at the facility year-round. During the high seasons, technical assistants are employed as required. | |||
| Supplies Available at or Near the Facility | ||||
| Groceries, Fuel, Maps | ||||
| Groceries: | The 'Butikken' (general store) is located in Block M just north of the airport hotel. Open hours are Mon - Thu 09:00 - 17:00, Fri 09:00 - 18:00, Saturday 10:00 - 13:00, Sunday closed. General Store 'Butikken' 17973 General Store Manager 17974 You can buy fresh, canned, frozen, dried and freeze-dried foods for household use as well as for field use. In case you need large quantities of special items you are recommended to contact the store manager well in advance to learn the terms of payment and delivery. | |||
| Fuel: | In the general store you can purchase: – Field stove gas (butane) (e.g. Gaz Bleu' for camping stoves) – Field stove alcohol (e.g. for 'Trangia Stormkökken') At the Statoil service station next to the airport building the following products are for sale: – Gasoline (e.g. for special field stoves and motor vehicles) – Kerosene / paraffin (e.g. for primusses and lamps) – DFA – Jet A-1 – AVGAS – lubricating oils (e.g. for motor vehicles, aircrafts) Contact the Statoil manager to get a quote of actual prices. If your scientific activities will need large quantities of fuels sold by Statoil you are recommended to contact the local Statoil manager (Tel.: +299-841049) in advance to set up a special arrangement. | |||
| Snow machine parts: | Kangerlussuaq has a snowmobile club and the members arrange recreational tours in the adjacent region. You may contact the club, Tel.: 71026, and arrange to go along on a trip or rent snowmobiles and sledges. | |||
| Weather Information and Statistics | ||||
| Weather information source for the research area: | Check http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/04231.html for a 5 day forecast of the weather in Kangerlussuaq. | |||
| Annual average high temperature (*C): | 15 | |||
| Annual average high temperature (*F): | 59 | |||
| Annual average low temperature (*C): | -22 | |||
| Annual average low temperature (*F): | -7.6 | |||
| Annual precipitation in millimeters: | 120 | |||
| Annual precipitation in inches: | 4.72 | |||
| Current Projects and Research History | ||||
| Research sources: | Click here for information on research in the vicinity of Kangerlussuaq from the database of Veco Polar Resources. | |||