Atmospheric observations at the Amundsen-Nobile Climate Change Tower in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

• Published in: Rendiconti Lincei
• Main Authors: MAZZOLA Mauro, VIOLA Angelo Pietro, LANCONELLI Christian, VITALE Vito
• Language: English
• Published: SPRINGER-VERLAG ITALIA SRL 2016
• Subjects: Arctic; Svalbard; Ny-Ålesund; Kongsfjord; Nobile; albedo; Climate change; Kongsfjord*; Ny Ålesund
• Online Access: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC105279; http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12210-016-0540-8; https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-016-0540-8

The Amundsen-Nobile Climate Change Tower (CCT) is one of the important scientific platforms operating in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. The CCT is equipped with a consistent set of meteorological sensors installed at different heights to provide continuous measurements of the atmospheric parameters that affect the climate and its variability. In this paper, some features of the main meteorological parameters observed during the 6 years of measurements since November 2009 are presented in order to describe the thermodynamic characteristic of the lower layers of the atmosphere and the peculiarities of CCT. Monthly and seasonal behavior of temperature, humidity and wind as well as radiation budget and albedo variability are also shown. Such preliminary statistical description aims to provide an overview of the phenomenology occurring in the Kongsfjord area, useful to proceed with further analysis of the arctic climatic system. Even if the time series are not long enough to consider the parameters variability on a climatological time scale, useful assumptions can be made for detailed analysis concerning turbulence studies, data intercomparison at different time and space scales, validation of theory and numerical model results. CCT dataset is stored in a dedicated built-in digital infrastructure that allows other users, in the frame of international cooperations, to visualize, access and download the data and contribute to strengthen the collaboration within the scientific community operating in Svalbard. JRC.D.6 - Knowledge for Sustainable Development and Food Security