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NSF's Summit Greenland Observatory
Information, resources, and outreach for the Arctic's only high-elevation, ice-sheet, climate, geophysical, and atmospheric research station.
About the obsevatory
The Greenland
Environmental Observatory (GEOSummit), or 'Summit Camp', on the summit of the Greenland Ice Sheet
(72oN, 38oW, 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).
A new model for Interior Greenland Research
Meeting Thursday, 8 December (18:30-20:00) in ARCUS Community Meeting Room (Pacific Room J, in the Marriot)
Recent investments by OPP ARSL have recreated capability to support research high on the Greenland ice sheet using overland traverses in addition to aircraft. To date the Greenland Inland Traverse (GrIT) has been in development, but has successfully completed two round trips from Thule to Summit, delivering significant quantities of fuel to both NEEM and Summit in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Plans are being developed to expand capacity and capability of GrIT. One motivating factor for expanding GrIT is to facilitate the demobilization of NEEM and redevelopment of Summit, but it is also exciting to point out that an operational GrIT ushers in expanded opportunities to support a range of research projects literally anywhere on the central portion of the ice sheet. The concept for operational GrIT envisions a "split fleet" with one part shuttling material from Thule through the marginal zone during a brief springtime window each year, while the other part of the fleet transports material from the inland side of the margin to wherever it is needed. The inland part of the fleet should be able to operate throughout summer, or maybe even longer. The inland fleet will need a logistical hub on the ice sheet, for maintenance and over-wintering. The location of this hub may be permanent, or it could move frequently, but it will not be at Summit. The hub could be a base for summertime science projects, and possible year round access to the hub is being considered. The inland logistic hub for GrIT is expected to also serve as the home base for flexible "Mobile Camps" that will be available for deployment where needed to support future science. Design of these camps is in very early stages. OPP and CPS are seeking input from the community doing, or contemplating, research on the Greenland ice sheet. Thoughts on possible locations for an interior logistics hub are welcome. Comments on the types of support and facilities that should be incorporated into Mobile Camps will be particularly useful. Some questions we solicit responses to include:
We expect that nearly every investigator or research team will have different responses to these types of questions. Therefore we hope that you can join us in San Francisco to make sure your needs and views are known as the discussion and planning move forward. |
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The Greenland Inland Traverse (GrIT)
Greenland Inland Traverse (“GrIT”) personnel conducted another successful season of traversing from Thule to Summit Station and back, providing logistical resources and demonstrating capabilities for traverse operation on the Greenland Ice Sheet. An archive of the traverse in detail is here |
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2010 GEOSummit Science and Planning Meeting OutcomeThe biannual GEOSummit Science Science and Planning Meeting was held 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 |
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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’
NOTE: While the server at the University California - Merced is being upgraded, this site is temporarily being hosted at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research.