|
The Greenland Environmental Observatory at Summit, Greenland (GEO - Summit Camp) is a year-round arctic measurement and research station. Primary support is from the U.S. National Science Foundation in collaboration with Veco Polar Resources.
The Summit of the Greenland Ice Sheet, the highest elevation north of the Arctic Circle provides unique opportunities for making year-round measurements of the Earth's atmosphere. The relatively cold temperatures and low atmospheric water vapor associated with this location make it the clear site of choice for a number of measurements.
For information and photos of the camp, camp life and science activities, see the Summit Camp web site at: http://www.summitcamp.org.
Page header photo above by Brad Johnson, courtesy of:
Veco Polar Resources
|
| Location | ||||
| Country: | Greenland | |||
| State/Province/Region: | Top of the Greenland Ice Sheet | |||
| Altitude in meters: | 3200 | |||
| Altitude in feet : | 10,500 | |||
| Longitude (Decimal, Degreesºmm'ss") : | 38.5º W 38º 29' W | |||
| Latitude (Decimal, Degreesºmm'ss") : | 72.6º N 72º 34' N | |||
| Environment Types Accessible at this Location | ||||
| Glacier, Interior | ||||
| Local History and Culture | ||||
| Description: | This plan for a multidisciplinary environmental observatory at Summit is based on scientific input from two workshops (May 20-22, 1997 in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland and February 26, 1998 in Copenhagen, Denmark) and over 50 individual scientists. Five priority areas have been identified where a high-elevation site on the Greenland ice sheet is required for year-around measurements: i) ice-core interpretation, ii) tropospheric chemistry, iii) radiation, energy balance and boundary layer, iv) stratospheric observations, and v) atmospheric electricity. For these areas of research, the Summit site will provide unique data that cannot be developed at coastal Greenland or other arctic sites. In addition, two areas have been identified where year-around measurements at Summit would help complete an arctic network of measurement sites, and thus greatly enhance existing data: i) polar aeronomy and space sciences, and ii) seismic and geodetic measurements. | |||
| Sources: | http://www.hwr.arizona.edu/~Alpine/Summit/workshop_back.html | |||
| Primary Logistics Provider | ||||
| Organization: | VECO Polar Resources | |||
| Name and title of contact person: | Robin Abbott | |||
| Address: | Valid May through August: VECO Polar Resources Attn: Robin Abbott Postboks 1015 DK-3910 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland Use VPR Lakewood address Sept-April: VECO Polar Resources Attn: Robin Abbott 7175 West Jefferson Ave., Ste. 1200 Lakewood, CO 80235 | |||
| Telephone: | Mobile: 303-748-8507 or Tel.: +011-299-841598 | |||
| Fax: | +011-299-841599 | |||
| E-mail: | tom@polarfield.com or robin@polarfield.com | |||
| Contact person or agency web page: | http://www.vecopolar.com/ | |||
| Primary Management Agency | ||||
| Organization: | National Science Foundation | |||
| Permits and Legal Issues | ||||
| Permit(s) required: | All research groups must have proper permits from the Danish Polar Center and the Greenland Home Rule Government. | |||
| Name of the permitting agency: | http://www.dpc.dk/Res&Log/ProjectPlanner/Start.html | |||
| Insurance required: | Please email DPC ( ha@dpc.dk ) for detailed information on insurance. ( http://www.dpc.dk/Res&Log/ProjectPlanner/Safety/Start.html#insurance ) | |||
| Physical Access | ||||
| Airstrip | ||||
| Accessibility: | Access to Summit Camp is by aircraft which land on a 15,000' by 200' (4572m by 60m) snow runway. | |||
| Airstrip description: | This is a prepared and regularly groomed landing area for ski-equipped aircraft. | |||
| Infrastructure | ||||
| Electricity, Heat, Mail service, Running water | ||||
| Mail service: | Incoming mail is flown in from Kangerlussuaq each flight period. Outgoing mail is delivered back to Kangerlussuaq. All mail service is via international mail through Denmark. Airmail takes approximately one week from the U.S. to the Greenland coast. When sending mail to Summit, allow an additional one to two weeks. | |||
| Communications and Data Systems | ||||
| Internet access, Telephone system, Fax send/receive, Local area network (LAN) | ||||
| Comments: | Project related phone calls and limited personal calls may be made from Summit using a telephone with a U.S. exchange. Calls are billed with Florida as the origin. Inbound calls or faxes to Summit are possible. | |||
| Network: | The camp is equipped with a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) internet system and telephone link, HF radio, Inmarsat Standard-C telex, and one lnmarsat Mini-M satellite telephone. Email, data transfers, and telephone access are available to researchers and staff. | |||
| Buildings | ||||
| Buildings: | The camp consists of a variety of structures. The Big House is a 26'W x 56'L building that serves the center of camp activity for the summer season. It serves as the summer kitchen, dining hall, office, and houses a complete bathroom and laundry facility. The generator module supplies power to the camp and includes a snow melter for water production. The Green House facility consists of two 8-foot wide stand-alone modules with a 16-foot connecting link between them. One unit serves as a laboratory, the other as a second kitchen (primarily used for cooking during the winter) and bath unit, with the center structure housing a common area and winter berthing. Additionally, a science Weatherport and a shop Weatherport are available. | |||
| Lodging: | Sleeping accommodations for the summer season is in unheated tents (Arctic Ovens). Winter berthing is indoors. | |||
| Food service: | The Summit Camp is staffed with a cook. Meals will be provided 6 days a week. On Sunday all camp personnel are asked to assist with meals. | |||
| Science Support Equipment | ||||
| Science support equipment: | VECO Polar Resources provides camping and field equipment to National Science Foundation Arctic Program participants. The inventory of available equipment may include: Tents Sleeping bags Snowmobiles Generators Cooking equipment Lanterns Camp stoves Clothing VECO Polar Resources has the ability to outfit most equipment required to conduct field research for large and small field parties. Researchers are encouraged to use VECO Polar Resources field equipment in order to reduce costs when submitting a proposal to the National Science Foundation. Equipment is constantly inspected for quality assurance. | |||
| Vehicles available: | VECO Polar Resources provides research teams in Greenland with vehicles for science project use. Available vehicles are: -Snowmachines utilized for transportation and moving light cargo -Tucker Snowcat employed to move larger cargo and travel to remote science sites | |||
| Personal Safety | ||||
| Personal gear list: | Science party participants are responsible for their own cold weather clothing. Fabrics to consider are Polar Plus Fleece, Polypropylene, Capalene, wool, and silk. Avoid cotton fabrics and jeans for remote field site use. Recommended Cold Weather Gear: 1 each Insulated Parka with hood 1 or 2 pair Insulated bibs, Carhartt 1 pair Wind pants, bib non-insulated 1 each Pile/fleece jacket 1 each Pile/fleece pants 1 each Lined wind jacket with hood 2 pair Long underwear 2 pair Expedition weight thermal top/bottoms 1 each Sleeping bag (rated to -40 degrees Fahrenheit) 1 each Sleeping bag liner 1 pair Sorel boots with spare liners (Glacier Model) 4-6 pair Wool socks 1 each Hat, musher style with earflaps 1 each Hat, pile or wool cap 1 each Neck gaiter 1-2 pair Leather work gloves 1-2 pair Insulated ski gloves 1 pair Expedition mittens Recommended Personal Gear: 1 each Towel 1 each Day pack Quantity Chapstick Quantity Sunscreen 1 pair Sunglasses 1 each Water bottle Quantity Medications with copies of any prescriptions 1 pair Hiking boots 1 each Walkman/CD player Quantity Batteries Quantity Reading material Quantity Toiletries | |||
| Medical Facilities/Services Available | ||||
| Onsite medical personnel: | VECO Polar Resources contracts with Medical Advisory Services, Inc. ( http://www.mas1.com/ ) to provide 24 hour a day on-call medical advice for emergency and non-emergency medical issues. All camps have at least one Wilderness First Respondercertified staff member responsible for coordinating all medical issues. | |||
| Current Projects and Research History | ||||
| Research sources: | A listing of current research at Summit station can be obtained at: http://www.hwr.arizona.edu/geosummit/ Click here for information on research at Summit Camp from the database of Veco Polar Resources. | |||