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The Japanese National Institute of Polar Research established the Arctic Environment Research Center in 1990 to function as the national coordinating office for the world Arctic research community and conduct its own research. The Ny-Ålesund station is used for studies in Atmospheric science, Glaciology, Terrestrial biology, Oceanography, and Upper Atmosphere Physics.
information and photo from the
AERC web site
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| Location | ||||
| Description: | The National Institute of Polar Research's Arctic Environment Research Center was established in 1990 to function as the national coordinating office for the world Arctic research community and conduct its own research. The center is operated by scientists who specialize in various research fields concerning the Arctic environment. At present, eight scientists representing the original disciplines of meteorology, glaciology, oceanography, terrestrial biology, and upper atmosphere physics are collaborating on the study of the structure and variations of the atmosphere, and the marine and terrestrial environment of the Arctic. To fulfill the given tasks, the center maintains an Arctic field laboratory in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. Various field activities have been newly started or are planned at the laboratory, on the nearby glaciers in the fjord or in its vicinity. The main themes of the current research are: Atmospheric science * monitoring of atmospheric minor constituents (carbon dioxide, methane, ozone) * Lidar (Laser Radar) observations of polar stratospheric clouds * Dynamics of polar atmospheric disturbances Glaciology * ice core drilling to reveal past climatic environment * snow sampling to clarify transportation and depositional processes Terrestrial biology * response of vegetation affected by global warming * monitoring study of tundra ecosystem Oceanography * physical and biological processes in polynyas * air-sea CO2 exchange at high latitude Upper Atmosphere Physics * radar aeronomy by EISCAT, Meteor, HF, MF and other radars * Arctic atmospheric and electromagnetic environmental study by radio and optical methods | |||
| Country: | Norway | |||
| State/Province/Region: | Svalbard | |||
| Latitude (Decimal, Degreesºmm'ss") : | 78.9166º N 78º55' N | |||
| Longitude (Decimal, Degreesºmm'ss") : | 11.933º E 11º56' E | |||
| Primary Logistics Provider | ||||
| Organization: | Arctic Environment Research Center | |||
| Address: | Rabben, 9173 Ny-Ålesund, Norway | |||
| Telephone: | +47-79-027107 and +81-33962-4971 | |||
| Fax: | +47-79-027005 and +81-33962-5701 | |||
| E-mail: | arctic@nipr.ac.jp | |||
| Contact person or agency web page: | http://www-arctic.nipr.ac.jp/ and http://www.nipr.ac.jp/english/r_centers/t01_aerc.html | |||
| Primary Management Agency | ||||
| Organization: | National Institute of Polar Research | |||
| Contact information: | 1-9-10, Kaga, Itabashi-ku Tokyo 173-8515, Japan | |||
| Telephone: | +81-33962-4712 | |||
| Fax: | +81-33962-2529 | |||
| Web site: | http://www.nipr.ac.jp/ | |||
| Availability and Cost | ||||
| Availability: | In order to request permission to use the Arctic Environment Research Center's arctic station, you must fill out the application form and researcher survey and submit them to the base management commission. These must be submitted at least one month in advance of intended use, especially to leave time for making reservations on flights between Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund. Any modifications to your original application must be communicated immediately. Observation Base Management Commission inside the National Institute of Polar Research's Arctic Environment Research Center Masashi Morimoto OBMC manager 173-8515 Kaga Ku, Tokyo Itabasi 1-9-10 Tel.: +81-3-3962-5720 Fax: +81-3-3962-5701 E-mail: Mon@nipr.ac.jp | |||
| User fee: | There is a fee for the long term installation of large monitoring equipment. Use of the low temperature laboratory and the wet laboratory must be paid for in advance. | |||
| Permits and Legal Issues | ||||
| Permit(s) required: | The base manager has authority in regard to the environmental impact of scientists using the facility. All scientific equipment installations or deployment must be previously approved by the base manager. | |||
| Buildings | ||||
| Lodging, Food service, Sanitation, Storage, Refrigerated storage, Freezer, Indoor staging space, Workshop and garage | ||||
| Buildings: | The deck area of the building which the National Institute of Polar Research is leasing from Kings Bay for observing is 250 square meters. It includes a kitchen for cooking, accomodations for seven people, a washroom, a restroom, and a shower. | |||
| Food service: | Please do not bring samples or chemicals to the kitchen. Meals are handled by the Kings Bay cafeteria, about a 30 minute walk from the Arctic Environment Research Center. There is a road from the station to the cafeteria as well for those using a vehicle. | |||
| Storage: | Any storage needs should not exceed two years and must be clearly designated with labels bearing the owner's name, the group's name, and other relevant information. | |||
| Workshop and garage: | Warehouse/Shop for the storage and repair of tools, field observation equipment and material. If you use consumables or damage/lose equipment inform the base manager immediately so they can endeavor to keep the area well stocked. | |||
| Laboratory Space | ||||
| Electricity in lab space, Telephone in lab space, General use computers / printers in lab space, Desk/office space, Internet access in lab space, E-mail send/receive in lab space, Wet lab, Dry lab, Workshop | ||||
| Lab space: | All experiments and equipment must be moved from the lab to a staging or storage area after completion of lab use unless the base manager is consulted. 1 Dry lab with heating equipment used for continuous weather monitoring and observation. 1 Dry lab with heating equipment. 1 Semi-dry lab where liquid samples are handled. There is a refrigerator for research samples. The is no heating equipment in this lab. 1 Wet lab with a waterproof floor. It also houses a Milli-Q Labo column filter water purification equipment, though users should speak with the base manager before use. 1 Frozen lab for frozen or glacial samples. Please do not turn the warehouse lights or leave open the doors. It is important to check the water trap on the freezer often and empty as necessary. If you need to retain samples here for an extended period please discuss it with the base manager in advance. | |||
| Electrical specifications: | 220V one phase and 380V three phase at 50Hz so you can also use 110V with a voltage transmitter | |||
| Science Support Equipment | ||||
| Vehicles available: | All use of vehicles must be cleared in advance with the base commander. If the vehicle is low on gasoline it must be refilled. 1 Small track/truck and 2 snowmobiles are provided. | |||
| Personal Safety | ||||
| Weapons training: | Rifle Safety Guidelines: -All parties leaving Ny-Ålesund must carry a rifle. -The base manager is in charge of rifles and bullets. -Training must be obtained before gun use. -Any gun use must be immediately reported to the base manager. -When firing at a dangerous animal, try to take a warning shot first if possible. -When entering Ny-Ålesund, a building, vehicle, or boat, remove the bullet from the gun. Always check the breach each time you approach one of these areas. | |||
| Current Projects and Research History | ||||
| Research sources: | July of 2002 - Change in vegetation of Spermatophyta, moss, and lichen communities in relation to glacial retreat; Principle Investigator: Kojima Satoru, Tokyo Woman's Christian College July - August of 2002 - Separation of the Hyphomycetes which relate to moss community withering; Principle Investigator: The Osaka University Graduate School agricultural life science postgraduate course Continuous Observation - Measurement of terrestrial free oscillation using the Ny-Ålesund superconducting gravitimeter; Principle Investigator: Tadahiro Sato, National Observatory Terrestrial Rotary research system Continuous Observation - Observing the fluctuations in greenhouse gasses in the arctic; Principle Investigator: Masashi Morimoto, National Institute of Polar Research | |||
| Reference sources: | A listing of reference material and research in Japanese is located at: http://www-arctic.nipr.ac.jp/syuppan.htm | |||