About the obsevatory

The Greenland Environmental Observatory (GEOSummit), or 'Summit Camp', on the summit of the Greenland Ice Sheet (72^oN, 38^oW, 3200 m.a.s.l.) was established by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) with cooperation from the Government of Greenland to provide year-round, long-term measurements for monitoring and investigations of the Arctic environment. The multidisciplinary facility is home to several year-round investigations as well as numerous seasonal campaigns which take advantage of the unique location of the observatory. GEOSummit provides investigators ease of access to the highest site north of the Arctic circle. Since 1989, when the GISP II ice-coring activities began, the site has hosted numerous atmospheric and glaciological investigations. Following two trial winter over periods (1997-1998, and 2000-2002), the NSF Long Term Observatory (LTO) program committed funding to maintain year-round measurements of key baseline variables of climate change at the site for a period of five years from 2003-2008. In addition, several programs funded through European agencies have a year-round presence at the site.

The facility is operated by CH2M HILL Polar Services (CPS) with guidance from the Science Coordination Office (SCO).

		2010 GEOSummit Science and Planning Meeting Outcome The biannual GEOSummit Science Science and Planning Meeting was held this year during the Arcus State of the Arctic Meeting 16-19 March, 2010. The meeting brought together over twenty researchers, management, and NSF program managers to discuss and outline the future for Summit Station development. The primary purpose of this particular workshop was to inform interested parties within the scientific community of the activities that have been taking place between the SCO, CH2Polar Servers, and the NSF for planning the new station. Several 'models' for development were presented. We also discussed the results of recent user surveys, and queried participants for their feedback on our activities. More detailed discussion notes and a scientific summary from the meeting are provided here
Summit Camp Webcam Full size  or  Archives

Model international research facility for leading-edge multidisciplinary science:

• Arctic, polar & global application
• Continuous & sustained geophysical measurements
• Intensive multidisciplinary collaborative campaigns
• Test bed for new sensors & technology

Sustainable scientific observatory:

• Sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy,
• minimum pollution, year-round operation
• for diverse, high-impact science
• A 21st century ’model of innovation’

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