Stations

Antarctic
Arctic

Station

Camp

Shelter

Laboratory

Station

Camp

Shelter

Laboratory

Background

Station code	IN0301
Facility Name	UK Arctic Research Station
Location	Arctic
Current status of facility	Open
Type	Station
Operating country	United Kingdom
INTERACT Status	Station
First opened/Opening year	1991
Operational period	Seasonal

Introduction

Facility name and Operator	British Antarctic Survey
Location	Ny-Ålesund, 78°55’ N, 11°56’ E is situated on the southern shore of Kongsfjord on the west coast of Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago.
Biodiversity and natural environment	Due to the influence of the North Atlantic Current, the climate on the west coast of Spitsbergen is milder than any other locations at that latitude. The southern side of Kongsfjord, on which Ny-Ålesund is situated, has 50 km2 of tundra and alluvial plain. Glaciers and sea confine a plant protection area at the head of the fjord. Numerous glaciers of various types occur in the area. Most bird species found in Svalbard are represented in the area with barnacle geese, eiders, auks, terns, and kittiwakes nesting in large numbers. Land mammals include reindeer, fox, and the occasional polar bear. The local fjord is home to ringed, bearded and common seals, walrus, and beluga.
History and Facilities	The UK has maintained a research station at Ny-Ålesund continuously since 1972. The NERC Arctic Research Station opened in1991. The station comprises 440 m2 of laboratory, workshop, and storage space plus single bedrooms. Additional accommodation can be provided by Kings Bay Company. The station provides laboratory, field equipment, telephone, computer facilities (fast web link), VHF radios, satellite telephones, firearms, and boats. Rental of snowmobiles for specific projects can be arranged.
General research and databases	he location is particularly suitable for ecological research, glacial/ periglacial geomorphology, hydrology, and atmospheric chemistry.
Human dimension	In 1991, Ny-Ålesund and the surrounding environment were designated as an area solely for scientific research. There are now 14 research stations owned by 10 nations. The Kings Bay Company provides a service infrastructure including air and sea link, power, water, buildings, and a dining facility. During the summer months, June to September, the population in Ny Ålesund reaches 150 persons. During the winter months it decreases to c. 25 persons.
Access	There are regular flights between Ny-Ålesund and Longyearbyen (30 minute flight) serviced by a 14 seat Dornier aircraft. Longyearbyen is served by scheduled flights from Norway. The northern shore and islands are easily accessible by boat.

Operator

Facility operator/manager	Natural Environment Research Council
Type of entity	Government
Institution managing/operating the facility	British Antarctic Survey
Contact facility	nc@bas.ac.uk

Data Source

Partner Institution

Partnership	Yes
Partner Institution Name (1)	*

Location

Station code	IN0301
Geographical coordinates - Latitude	78° 55' 0'' N
Geographical coordinates - Longitude	11° 56' 0'' E
Region	European Arctic
Altitude of facility (m)	0
Min. altitude within study area (m)	0
Max. altitude within study area (m)	500
Nearest town/settlement	150
Distance to nearest town/settlement (km)	150
Distance to nearest transport facility (airstrip/helipad/dock - km)	0
Distance to nearest station (km)	0
Type of surface facility built on	Ice-free ground

Climate

Permafrost	Continuous
Climate zone	High Arctic
Precipitation type	Snow and Rain
Total annual precipitation (mm)	500
Max wind speed (km/h)	62
Dominant wind direction	E
Mean annual temperature (°C)	-6
Mean temperature in February (°C)	-14.6
Mean temperature in July (°C)	4.9
Sea Ice Break Up	May
Lake Ice Break Up	June
River Ice Break Up	June
Snow free period	June; July; August

Features

Features in the facility area	Biological features; Bird colonies; Blue ice; Bluff; Clear air zone; Coast; Crevasse; Fauna; Fjord; High elevation; Hill; Ice cap or glacier; Lake; Low artificial light pollution; Melt streams; Moraine; Mountain; Permanent snowpatches; Rivers; Rock; Sea; Seal colonies; Shoreline; Snow; Sastrugi; Terrestrial geothermal; Tundra
Other features	Polar deserts/semi-deserts;Peatlands;Human settlements or resource use in

Disciplines

Main science disciplines

Animal tracking; Atmospheric sciences; Bacteriology; Biochemistry; Biogeography; Biology; Biophysics; Botany; Cell and molecular biology; Climate studies; Climatology; Climate change; Developmental biology; Earth and atmospheric sciences–other; Ecology; Ecosystem modelling; Entomology and parasitology; Environmental policy; Environmental sciences; Evolutionary biology; Fisheries modelling; Fishery; Geochemistry; Geocryology; Geology; Geomorphology; Geophysics and seismology; Glaciology; Hydrology; Human impacts; Information sciences; Inorganic chemistry; Isotopic chemistry; Limnology; Mapping; Marine biology; Meteorology; Microbiology; Oceanography; Organic chemistry; Paleobiology; Paleoclimatology; Paleoecology; Paleolimnology; Paleontology; Pollution; Sedimentology; Social science; Soil biology; Soil science; Systems biology; Terrestrial biology; Toxicology; Zoology

Other science disciplines

Fishery; ecosystem function; land-use change

Human Activities

Human activity	Yes
Long term monitoring	Yes
Waste management	Yes
Hazard[ous] management	Yes
Fuel spill response capability	Yes

Infrastructure

Station code	IN0301
Area under roof (m2)	442
Scientific laboratories (m2)	77
Type of scientific laboratories	Biology; Chemistry; Geology; Geophysics
Conference room (capacity)	0
Logistics (m2)	100
Number of beds	7
Showers	Yes
Laundry facilities	Yes
Power supply (type)	Fossil fuel
Power supply (V)	220
Power supply (hours per day)	24
Hydroponics facilities	No

Staff Capacity

Number of staff on station (peak/summer season)	1
Number of scientists on station (peak/summer season)	25
Number of staff on station (off peak/winter season)	0
Number of scientists on station (off peak/winter season)	0
Max number of personnel at a time (staff, scientists and other)	15
Number of tourists (annual average)	0

Scientific Equipment

Specific devices / Scientific equipment)

Drying ovens, freezers, fridges, centrifuge, fume cupboard, microscopes, balances etc

Medical Facilities

Medical facilities	No
Area of medical facility (m2)	0
Beds	0
Other equipment	Weapons, VHF radio, map, compass, first-aid kit ,Spare clothing, food
Distance to hospital (km)	100
Staff with basic medical training or doctor (summer)	1
Staff with basic medical training or doctor (winter)	0
Closest emergency facility in Antarctica (km)	0
Closest emergency facility external (km)	0
Compulsory safety equipment	Weapons, VHF radio, map, compass, first-aid kit, satellite telephones,
Recommended safety equipment	Spare clothing, food, map, compass, weapons, VHF radio
Medical research capabilities	Yes
Medical screening requirements	No data

Vehicles

Sea transportation	Polarcirkel 560 Workboat
Land transportation	Bicycle and hand carts, snowmobiles

Workshop facilities

ICTS (Staff available to assit with constructions)

Communications

Computer; E-mail; Fax; Internet; Printer; Satellite phone; Telephone; VHF

Access

Station code	IN0301
Access	Air; Sea

Aircraft landing facilities

Number of airstrips	1
Length (m) of longest runway	800
Width (m) of longest runway	60
Helipad	Yes

Transport and freight

Transport to facility	Ski; Skidoo; Walking
No. of ship visits per year	0
Period of ship visits per year	February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October; November
Ship landing facilities	Pier/Jetty
No. of flight visits per year	0
Period of flight visits per year	January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October; November; December

Access To The Facility

Permits required for access to the facility	Yes
Permits required for studies	Yes
Contact person	Nick Cox
Email contact	nc@bas.ac.uk

Pictures

Ny-Ålesund (Credits: Linda Bakken)

Station building (Credits: Nick Cox)

Landscape-fiord and mountains (Credits: Nick Cox)

Ny-Ålesund and Kongsfjord (Credits: Linda Bakken)