High-Resolution Image

On 24 July 2006, NOAA held a grand opening ceremony for their new Arctic Atmospheric Observatory at Eureka, Ellesmere Island, Canada (80N, 86W), one of several sites shown in the figure which are planned (Tiksi) or in operation for the International Polar Year (2007-9). A charter plane full of dignitaries was flown to the site for the ceremony. The Eureka site contains instruments similar to those at the ARM sites in Barrow, Alaska and in Oklahoma, and NOAA credits ARM with helping them develop the concept for this observatory as well as specific instruments deployed there.

The objective of the NOAA Arctic Observatory program is to collect scientific information on the atmosphere in the High Arctic in relation to clouds, radiation, aerosol and surface fluxes, in order to understand the seemingly accelerating processes of Arctic climate change, including retreat of sea ice and permafrost melting. A collection of state-of-the-art scientific instruments has been assembled at the site, including cloud radar, high-spectral-resolution lidar and spectral and narrow-band radiometers. The program is planned to be fully operational for the International Polar Year with the addition of advanced radiation and surface flux measurements.

Click here and here for further information about NOAA’s Arctic Atmospheric Observatory program.

(submitted by Warren Wiscombe, ARM Chief Scientist)