Zackenberg Station, also called ZERO Station (Zackenberg Ecological Research
Operations), is in a very remote location on the north side of Young Sund - Tyrolerfjord
in Northeast Greenland. Opened in 1997, it is owned and operated by the Danish Polar Center.
The station has five permanent buildings, with laboratories, kitchen and sanitary facilities
plus semi-permanent tent structures for researcher living quarters. Up to 16 researchers can
be accommodated during the 100 day summer field season. Use in winter is by special arrangement.
The station provides access to high-arctic terrestrial ecosystems, as well as drainage basin,
salt marsh and marine environments.
(information and images are from the station's web site)
|
| Location | ||||
| Country: | Greenland | |||
| Latitude (Decimal, Degreesºmm'ss") : | 74°30'N | |||
| Longitude (Decimal, Degreesºmm'ss") : | 20°30'W | |||
| Environment Types Accessible at this Location | ||||
| Coastal, Marine, Riparian, Sea ice, Tundra, Wetland | ||||
| Primary Logistics Provider | ||||
| Organization: | Danish Polar Center | |||
| Name and title of contact person: | Dr. Morten Rasch, Station Manager | |||
| Address: | Dr. Morten Rasch Danish Polar Center, Strandgade 100H, DK 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark, |  | ||
| E-mail: | mr@geogr.ku.dk | |||
| Telephone: | +45 32880100, | |||
| Fax: | +45 32880101 | |||
| Contact person or agency web page: | Danish Polar Center(DPC) | |||
| Primary Management Agency | ||||
| Organization: | Danish Polar Center (see above) | |||
| Availability and Cost | ||||
| Availability: | "Zackenberg and Daneborg are situated within the National Park in North and East Greenland and access is therefore regulated in accordance with the legal stipulations issued by the Greenland Home Rule government. If you are planning to visit the Zackenberg Station or its branch facility at Daneborg you must complete the Zackenberg access application form thereby providing all pertinent information – and submit the completed form to the Danish Polar Center." See the station web page: http://www.zackenberg.dk/access.html | |||
| Operating season: | Zackenberg station is staffed from about the 1st of June to the 1st of September. The station is available in the off season, but only through prior arrangement with the Danish Polar Center. | |||
| Advance arrangements: | All research projects must submit a request for an access permit, to the Danish Polar Center, no later than January 15th of the year of the planned summer field season. The application deadline for access during winter is April 1st of the year preceding the planned winter field season. The application can be found in the station's site manual. "Due to environmental concerns all applications will be evaluated by the Danish Polar Center which also maintains correspondance with the Greenland Homerule concerning overall access to the National Park." | |||
| User fee: | DKK 700 / day / person for scientists and DKK 1500 / day / person for non-scientists. | This fee includes food, accommodation and free use of all facilities. | ||
| Permits and Legal Issues | ||||
| Insurance required: | You are required to take out a normal travel insurance covering, e.g. medical help and evacuation in case of illness. For details, see the insurance and liability section of the online Zero Site Manual. | |||
| Physical Access | ||||
| Accessibility: | Travelling to and from Zackenberg Station is handled by the Danish Polar Center. The only aircraft type in use is the Twin Otter with a total payload of 1000 kg. (2,680 lbs.) Round trips are offered at a fixed price between Scandinavia and Zackenberg. Once a year, in the first half of August, a cargo ship from Denmark calls in at Zackenberg. Local transportation is based on hiking, skiing, boating or use of All Terrain Vehicle. | |||
| Buildings | ||||
 Zackenberg Station has five permanent buildings holding functions including wet laboratory, dry laboratory, computer room, kitchen, mess, seminar room, toilets, showers, communication room, office and storage room. A well-equipped workshop is available. Researchers are accommodated in single/double rooms in sturdy ‘Weatherheaven' shelters. | ||||
| Science Support Equipment | ||||
| Field gear available for checkout: | There is a small collection of field gear items available to borrow at the station. See the gear page of the station web site. (scroll down) | |||
| Science support equipment: | ||||
| Handbook | ||||
| Source for electronic handbook: | http://www.zackenberg.dk/manual.html | This is a thorough online manual, and should be read by anyone considering the use of the station. | ||
| Personal Safety | ||||
| Personal gear list: | A RECOMMENDED PACKING LIST for visitors to Zackenberg. | |||
| Health and safety information sources: | There is extensive information on safety in wildlife encounters in the publications section of the station web site. | |||
| Weather Information and Statistics | ||||
| Weather information source for the research area: | Weather data, in PDF format, for Zackenberg from September of 1995 to August of 1997 is available on the station web site. | |||
| Current Projects and Research History | ||||
| Research sources: | There are a number of publications available on the station web site in PDF format, as well as a bibliography of all papers, reports and theses since 1995. | |||