NSF Vision for Research Support & Logistics at Summit Station
Summit Station will become an efficient, flexible observing platform supporting seasonal campaigns for research and training...
Scientific Vision for Summit Station, Greenland
Over the coming decades, research conducted at Summit Station will provide unique insights into Arctic-wide and global climate processes...
Summit Station, Greenland
Summit Station is the only high altitude, high latitude, inland, year‐round observing station in the Arctic. Summit Station offers immediate access to the free troposphere and is relatively free of local influences that could corrupt atmospheric observations. As such, it is ideally suited for studies aimed at identifying and understanding long‐range, intercontinental transport and its influences on the ice sheet surface, boundary layer, and overlying atmosphere. The pristine and remote location in a year‐round dry snow and ice region provides an optimal facility for energy and surface mass balance, radiation measurements, and remote sensing validation studies. Summit Station is also a prime site for astronomy and astrophysics research due to its high altitude and dry and stable atmosphere.
Summit Station is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Arctic Research Program and operated by Battelle Arctic Research Operations (ARO) with guidance from the Science Coordination Office (SCO) and in cooperation with the Government of Greenland. The Battelle ARO contract is administered by the Arctic Research Support and Logistics (RSL) Program at the NSF.
NSF Vision for Research Support & Logistics at Summit Station
Summit Station will become an efficient, flexible observing platform supporting seasonal campaigns for research and training as well as a variety of research fields utilizing state-of-the-art technology to enable year-round measurements made autonomously or with minimal human presence.
Background: Summit Station will remain an important polar research station contributing to an arctic network of observations and supporting cutting-edge research in a variety of disciplines by international teams, as well as providing a training platform for next generation research scientists. Observations at Summit Station contribute to a broad scientific understanding of the atmosphere and cryosphere including: tracking atmospheric pollution and Arctic-wide transport, snow chemistry, air-snow interactions, weather prediction, understanding changes in the Arctic climate system, the surface mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet, and the physics of snow and ice.
Scientific Vision for Summit Station, Greenland
Over the coming decades, research conducted at Summit Station will provide unique insights into Arctic-wide and global climate processes and answer transformative science questions about the role of the Greenland Ice Sheet in the global climate system. Summit will remain the only high altitude, high latitude, inland, year-round observatory in the Arctic. Summit offers immediate access to the free troposphere and is relatively free of local influences that could corrupt atmospheric observations. As such, it is ideally suited for studies aimed at identifying and understanding long-range, intercontinental transport and its influences on the ice sheet surface, boundary layer, and overlying atmosphere. The pristine and remote location in a year-round dry snow and ice region provides an optimal facility for energy and surface mass balance, radiation measurements, and remote sensing validation studies. Summit is also a prime site for astronomy and astrophysics research due to its high altitude and dry, stable atmosphere.
Proposing Research at Summit
Researchers considering fieldwork at Summit are required to contact the SCO at sco@geo-summit.org during the proposal stage. Researchers must also contact the Battelle ARO Planning Administrator during the proposal stage. Battelle ARO will distribute a Requirements Questionnaire to the researchers to determine the scope, impact, and feasibility of the project. Battelle ARO can also answer logistical questions and will provide a project cost estimate, which must be included with proposals to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other funding agencies.
Steps to propose research at Summit
- Contact the SCO at sco@geo-summit.org
- Contact the Battelle ARO Planning Administrator and obtain a support letter and cost estimate for logistics support. Battelle ARO support estimate lead time is typically four weeks.
- Submit research proposal to NSF*
*there are other funding sources for research at Summit including NASA, NOAA, and international funding sources
Latest News
We’re on the #Greenland Ice Sheet at Summit Station! What an incredible experience. So proud of all the world class #NSFfunded work @NSF is doing here. 🇺🇸🇬🇱🇩🇰#grønland #KalaallitNuaat #Arctic pic.twitter.com/sFGSMhWecQ
— Ambassador Carla Sands (@USAmbDenmark) August 30, 2018
Thank you to @109thAW for your incredible work and mission critical support in #Greenland. #JointArcticCommand #Allies #Arctic #grønland #KalaallitNuaat 🇺🇸🇬🇱🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/L2vYHrAzKZ
— Ambassador Carla Sands (@USAmbDenmark) August 30, 2018