TY - JOUR
T1 - Automatic weather stations for basic and applied glaciological research
AU - Citterio, Michele
AU - van As, Dirk
AU - Ahlstrøm, Andreas P.
AU - Andersen, Morten L.
AU - Andersen, Signe B.
AU - Box, Jason E.
AU - Charalampidis, Charalampos
AU - Colgan, William T.
AU - Fausto, Robert S.
AU - Nielsen, Søren
AU - Veicherts, Martin
PY - 2015/7/7
Y1 - 2015/7/7
N2 - Since the early 1980s, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
(GEUS) glaciology group has developed automatic weather stations (AWSs)
and operated them on the Greenland ice sheet and on local glaciers to
support glaciological research and monitoring projects (e.g. Olesen
& Braithwaite 1989; Ahlstrøm et al. 2008). GEUS has also
operated AWSs in connection with consultancy services in relation to
mining and hydropower pre-feasibility studies (Colgan et al.
2015). Over the years, the design of the AWS has evolved, partly due to
technological advances and partly due to lessons learned in the field.
At the same time, we have kept the initial goal in focus: long-term,
year-round accurate recording of ice ablation, snow depth and the
physical parameters that determine the energy budget of glacierised
surfaces. GEUS has an extensive record operating AWSs in the harsh
Arctic environment of the diverse ablation areas of the Greenland ice
sheet, glaciers and ice caps (Fig. 1). The current GEUS-type AWS (Fig.
2) records meteorological, surface and sub-surface variables, including
accumulation and ablation, as well as for example ice velocity. A large
part of the data is transmitted by satellite near real-time to support
ongoing applications, field activities and the planning of maintenance
visits. The data have been essential for assessing the impact of climate
change on land ice. The data are also crucial for calibration and
validation of satellite-based observations and climate models (van As et al. 2014).
AB - Since the early 1980s, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
(GEUS) glaciology group has developed automatic weather stations (AWSs)
and operated them on the Greenland ice sheet and on local glaciers to
support glaciological research and monitoring projects (e.g. Olesen
& Braithwaite 1989; Ahlstrøm et al. 2008). GEUS has also
operated AWSs in connection with consultancy services in relation to
mining and hydropower pre-feasibility studies (Colgan et al.
2015). Over the years, the design of the AWS has evolved, partly due to
technological advances and partly due to lessons learned in the field.
At the same time, we have kept the initial goal in focus: long-term,
year-round accurate recording of ice ablation, snow depth and the
physical parameters that determine the energy budget of glacierised
surfaces. GEUS has an extensive record operating AWSs in the harsh
Arctic environment of the diverse ablation areas of the Greenland ice
sheet, glaciers and ice caps (Fig. 1). The current GEUS-type AWS (Fig.
2) records meteorological, surface and sub-surface variables, including
accumulation and ablation, as well as for example ice velocity. A large
part of the data is transmitted by satellite near real-time to support
ongoing applications, field activities and the planning of maintenance
visits. The data have been essential for assessing the impact of climate
change on land ice. The data are also crucial for calibration and
validation of satellite-based observations and climate models (van As et al. 2014).
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84937045489&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.34194/geusb.v33.4512
DO - 10.34194/geusb.v33.4512
M3 - Article
SN - 2597-2154
SN - 1904-4666
SN - 1604-8156
VL - 33
SP - 69
EP - 72
JO - Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin
JF - Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin
ER -