Summit Camp, also Summit Station, is a year-round staffed research station near the apex of the Greenland ice sheet. The station is located at 3,216 metres (10,551 ft) above sea level.[1] The population of the station is typically five in wintertime and reaches a maximum of 38 in the summer. The station is operated by the United States National Science Foundation[2][3] through the logistical-support contractor Battelle Arctic Research Operations (Battelle ARO).[4] A permit from the Danish Polar Center (Danish: Dansk Polarcenter) under the auspices of the Home Rule Government of Greenland (Greenlandic: Kalaallit Nunaanni Inatsisartut) is required to visit the station.
Summit Station
Overview of the area around Summit Station
Location of Summit Station within Northeast Greenland National Park
Summit Station consists of the Big House (communications and galley), Mobile Science Facility, Temporary Atmospheric Watch Observatory, Berthing Module, a combined garage and generator building, and storage buildings.[6]
Summit Station was originally established in April 1989 in support of the Greenland Ice Sheet Project Two (GISP2) deep ice coring effort. A ski-equipped C-130 from the New York Air National Guard performed an open snow landing near the site, bringing the put-in team consisting of Mark Twickler, Jay Klink, Michael Morrison, and two navigation specialists; Doug Roberts and Jim Normandeau who located the exact location chosen for the GISP2 drilling site, established a camp, and laid out the runway. Subsequent flights brought in additional materials and personnel needed to build the station. Two major structures were planned and built: The Big House, an insulated panel building (housing a galley, common space, and office), elevated to minimize snow drifts; and a geodesic drill dome to house the deep drill. Extensive under-snow trenches were also constructed to house the core handling, processing, and storage facilities. Many smaller Weatherport hut buildings and tents were also erected as storage and shop areas, as well as sleeping quarters. These were erected and taken down each season. On July 1, 1993, the bedrock was reached. Originally only occupied in the summer, the station has been staffed year-round since 2003, with a winter population of 4 to 5.
Climate
The climate is classified as ice cap, with no month having a mean temperature exceeding 0 °C (32 °F). Typical daily maximum temperatures at Summit Camp are around −35 °C (−31 °F) in winter (January) and −10 °C (14 °F) in summer (July). Winter minimum temperatures are typically about −45 °C (−49 °F) and only rarely exceed −20 °C (−4 °F). The highest temperature at Summit Station was 2.2 °C (36.0 °F), recorded on 13 July 2012 and on 28 July 2017;[7] the lowest recorded temperature was −63.3 °C (−81.9 °F) on 21 February 2002. On 6 July 2017 the site recorded the lowest temperature in the northern hemisphere for the month of July at −33.0 °C (−27.4 °F).[8][9] On 14 August 2021, it rained throughout the entire day at Summit Camp, marking the first time since recordkeeping began (1989) that rain had fallen in liquid form at Greenland's glacial summit.[10]
Climate data for Automatic Weather Station (AWS), Summit Camp, Greenland Ice Sheet
During the summer months, the station is accessed via Kangerlussuaq Airport with LC-130 Hercules aircraft which land on a 4,572 by 60 m (15,000 by 197 ft) snow runway, which is prepared and regularly groomed for ski-equipped aircraft.[3] Winter access is infrequent, using smaller, ski-equipped aircraft such as Twin Otter flown by Kenn Borek Air.[13]
^Extreme Temperatures - "Extreme Temperatures Around the World". Retrieved January 15, 2013.
^Date of maximum temperature - "Record warmth at the top of the Greenland Ice Sheet". Weather Underground: Dr. Jeff Masters' Wunderblog. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
^Patel, Kasha (August 19, 2021). . Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
^Shuman, Christopher A.; Steffen, Konrad; Box, Jason E.; Stearns, Charles R. (2001). "A Dozen Years of Temperature Observations at the Summit: Central Greenland Automatic Weather Stations 1987–99". Journal of Applied Meteorology. American Meteorological Society. 40 (4): 741–752. doi:10.1175/1520-0450(2001)040<0741:adyoto>2.0.co;2. ISSN 0894-8763.
^ "ESRL". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
CH2M HILL Polar Services Homepage for Summit Station
Weather data of Summit Camp
Documenting 2013 journey to Summit Station
ESRL Global Monitoring Division - Summit Observatory
WeatherPort Shelter Systems
January 29, 2023
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Summit Camp also Summit Station is a year round staffed research station near the apex of the Greenland ice sheet The station is located at 3 216 metres 10 551 ft above sea level 1 The population of the station is typically five in wintertime and reaches a maximum of 38 in the summer The station is operated by the United States National Science Foundation 2 3 through the logistical support contractor Battelle Arctic Research Operations Battelle ARO 4 A permit from the Danish Polar Center Danish Dansk Polarcenter under the auspices of the Home Rule Government of Greenland Greenlandic Kalaallit Nunaanni Inatsisartut is required to visit the station Summit Station Overview of the area around Summit Station Location of Summit Station within Northeast Greenland National Park source source source source source source source source source source source source source source track track track track track Aerial video of Summit Camp Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Climate 4 Transport 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksGeography EditThe station is located at 72 34 44 10 N 38 27 34 56 W 72 5789167 N 38 4596000 W 72 5789167 38 4596000 5 Google Maps satellite view approximately 360 km 220 mi from the east coast of Greenland 500 km 310 mi from the west coast at Saattut Uummannaq and 200 km 120 mi north northeast of the historical ice sheet station Eismitte The closest town is Ittoqqortoormiit 460 km 290 mi east southeast of the station The station however is not part of the Sermersooq municipality but falls within the bounds of the Northeast Greenland National Park Summit Station consists of the Big House communications and galley Mobile Science Facility Temporary Atmospheric Watch Observatory Berthing Module a combined garage and generator building and storage buildings 6 History EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed April 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Summit week 1 1989 Summit Station was originally established in April 1989 in support of the Greenland Ice Sheet Project Two GISP2 deep ice coring effort A ski equipped C 130 from the New York Air National Guard performed an open snow landing near the site bringing the put in team consisting of Mark Twickler Jay Klink Michael Morrison and two navigation specialists Doug Roberts and Jim Normandeau who located the exact location chosen for the GISP2 drilling site established a camp and laid out the runway Subsequent flights brought in additional materials and personnel needed to build the station Two major structures were planned and built The Big House an insulated panel building housing a galley common space and office elevated to minimize snow drifts and a geodesic drill dome to house the deep drill Extensive under snow trenches were also constructed to house the core handling processing and storage facilities Many smaller Weatherport hut buildings and tents were also erected as storage and shop areas as well as sleeping quarters These were erected and taken down each season On July 1 1993 the bedrock was reached Originally only occupied in the summer the station has been staffed year round since 2003 with a winter population of 4 to 5 Climate EditThe climate is classified as ice cap with no month having a mean temperature exceeding 0 C 32 F Typical daily maximum temperatures at Summit Camp are around 35 C 31 F in winter January and 10 C 14 F in summer July Winter minimum temperatures are typically about 45 C 49 F and only rarely exceed 20 C 4 F The highest temperature at Summit Station was 2 2 C 36 0 F recorded on 13 July 2012 and on 28 July 2017 7 the lowest recorded temperature was 63 3 C 81 9 F on 21 February 2002 On 6 July 2017 the site recorded the lowest temperature in the northern hemisphere for the month of July at 33 0 C 27 4 F 8 9 On 14 August 2021 it rained throughout the entire day at Summit Camp marking the first time since recordkeeping began 1989 that rain had fallen in liquid form at Greenland s glacial summit 10 Climate data for Automatic Weather Station AWS Summit Camp Greenland Ice SheetMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high C F 11 7 10 9 11 0 12 2 12 8 9 0 1 2 29 8 1 4 29 5 1 8 35 2 2 2 36 0 0 9 33 6 0 1 32 2 5 5 22 1 7 1 19 2 13 1 8 4 2 2 36 0 Average high C F 36 33 38 36 32 26 29 20 19 2 11 12 11 12 14 7 22 8 28 18 28 18 36 33 25 14 Daily mean C F 43 45 42 44 41 42 33 27 23 9 15 5 13 9 16 3 26 15 34 29 36 33 40 40 30 22 Average low C F 48 54 46 51 45 49 40 40 30 22 19 2 15 5 21 6 29 20 39 38 42 44 48 54 35 31 Record low C F 61 2 78 2 63 3 81 9 61 2 78 2 57 3 71 1 47 4 53 3 37 5 35 5 33 0 27 4 39 2 38 6 46 0 50 8 51 4 60 5 60 0 76 0 63 0 81 4 63 3 81 9 Source 11 7 September record 12 Transport EditDuring the summer months the station is accessed via Kangerlussuaq Airport with LC 130 Hercules aircraft which land on a 4 572 by 60 m 15 000 by 197 ft snow runway which is prepared and regularly groomed for ski equipped aircraft 3 Winter access is infrequent using smaller ski equipped aircraft such as Twin Otter flown by Kenn Borek Air 13 Summit Laying out the first runway 1989 Coordinates 72 34 46 50 N 38 27 33 07 W 72 5795833 N 38 4591861 W 72 5795833 38 4591861See also EditList of research stations in the Arctic NEEM Camp Camp Century Eismitte North Ice List of mountains in GreenlandReferences Edit An Air Greenland Twin Otter supply flight to the station departs from Kangerlussuaq summer 2009 UNAVCO Archived 2008 08 28 at the Wayback Machine UNAVCO Summit Station GPS Base Station Summit Camp a b Arctic Logistics Information And Support ALIAS Archived 2008 07 06 at the Wayback Machine Battelle Arctic Gateway Battelle Arctic Gateway 2020 12 05 Retrieved 2020 12 05 Greenland s Summit Camp in the Winter Polar Field Retrieved 2 March 2021 Summit Camp virtual tour a b Vejrekstremer Gronland Danish Meteorological Institute in Danish Extreme Temperatures Extreme Temperatures Around the World Retrieved January 15 2013 Date of maximum temperature Record warmth at the top of the Greenland Ice Sheet Weather Underground Dr Jeff Masters Wunderblog Retrieved January 15 2013 Patel Kasha August 19 2021 Rain falls at the summit of Greenland Ice Sheet for first time on record Washington Post Archived from the original on August 19 2021 Retrieved August 19 2021 Shuman Christopher A Steffen Konrad Box Jason E Stearns Charles R 2001 A Dozen Years of Temperature Observations at the Summit Central Greenland Automatic Weather Stations 1987 99 Journal of Applied Meteorology American Meteorological Society 40 4 741 752 doi 10 1175 1520 0450 2001 040 lt 0741 adyoto gt 2 0 co 2 ISSN 0894 8763 ESRL National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration A Kenn Borek Air Ltd IATA ID 4K ICAO ID KBA Suite Calgary 808 55th Ave NE Kenn Borek Air borekair com Retrieved 2022 11 25 External links EditExploration history of northern East Greenland Webcam of Summit Camp Summit Camp Homepage CH2M HILL Polar Services Homepage for Summit Station Weather data of Summit Camp Documenting 2013 journey to Summit Station ESRL Global Monitoring Division Summit Observatory WeatherPort Shelter Systems Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Summit Camp amp oldid 1123813288, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
