Ice and Climate:
Polar in-situ observations
Introduction
AWS in the Alpine regions of Europe. On some glaciers the AWS are part of a larger ongoing measuring program that includes mass balance and glacier velocity observations. The stations marked bold are still operational.
The Alpine stations
> Morteratsch glacier, Switzerland
> Hochjochferner, Italy/Austria
> Midtdalsbreen, Hardangerjøkulen, Norway.
> Hardangerjøkulen snow plateau, Norway
Morteratsch glacier, Switzerland
Location: |
46°25' N, 09°25' E, ~2100 m a.s.l. |  |
Operational: |
August 1994 to September 2023 | |
Remarks: |
. Due to the ongoing retreat of the glacier, the AWS had to be moved several times to a higher location. Since 2016 the station was located in the upper ablation zone of the Morteratsch glacier (see map), and was part of the MortAlive project. This project investigated the possibility to slow down the retreat of the glacier by covering a part of the melt zone by snow throughout the summer (link)
| |
Hochjochferner, Italy/Austria
Location: |
46°47' N, 10°48.2' E, ~2800 m a.s.l. |  |
Operational: |
September 2011 to September 2016 | |
Remarks: |
The station was part of an educational program. In July 2013 a camera was installed which made during day time every 2 hours a picture of the glacier.
The movie below is based on images taken in August/September, at the end of the melting season. The dot marks the location of the weather station. | |
Storbreen, Norway
Location: |
61°35' N, 08°10' E, ~1570 m a.s.l. |  |
Operational: |
September 2001 to May 2024 | |
Remarks: |
Each year the station is visited at the end of August. | |
Midtdalsbreen, Hardangerjøkulen, Norway.
Location: |
60°34' N, 07°28' E, ~1449 m a.s.l. |  |
Operational: |
October 2000 to August 2013 | |
Remarks: |
The project was a cooperation with the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE). | |
Hardangerjøkulen snow plateau, Norway
Location: |
60°33' N, 07°27' E, ~1860 m a.s.l. |  |
Operational: |
May 2005 to March 2006 | |
Remarks: |
The station was installed in summer 2005 but did not survive the winter of 2005/2006 due to ice accumulation on the mast. It was decided not to make a second attempt. | |
