The Hydrometeorological Observatory of Tiksi: Planning and Implementation satellite image of region around Tiksi

Overview

Tiksi, Russia 71.6 N, 128.9 has been selected as the location for development of a new Intensive Arctic Observatory site representing a partnership between the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet). The existing weather station in Tiksi was replaced in the summer/fall of 2006 with a new building which has additional laboratory and roof space intended to support instruments for research, climate studies and monitoring studies. Present plans are to build a second facility in the summer of 2007 1.5 km north west of the new Roshydromet weather station. The site for the second facility has been selected so that the surrounding terrain is horizontally homogeneous, undisturbed, and with a significant clean air sector. The second facility will include towers, roof space, air sampling stacks and boardwalks to maintain the pristine environment (see Tiksi site plan).

It is intended that this facility will support the research needs of the International community, across disciplines. On March 7-9, 2007 there was a planning meeting in Boulder, Colorado to develop a work requirements document for the new facility. This meeting was open to all researchers with an interest in doing research in the Tiksi area regardless of current funding status. The four primary goals of the meeting were to:

  1. Approve a final Work Requirements Document to serve as a basis for construction in the summer/fall of 2007;
  2. Begin coordination of measurement activities and programs to fully utilize resources between programs, disciplines and countries;
  3. Training of Tiksi personnel on the first wave of instruments intended for the Tiksi Observatory;
  4. Establish a Tiksi Science Steering Committee.

NOAA hosted a delegation from Russia that included engineers from Tiksi, managers from the Moscow and Yakutsk Roshydromet offices, and Russian scientists with research interests in Tiksi. The Arctic research community was invited to attend this meeting with requests, experience, expressions of interest and ideas for development of this new research and monitoring facility.

Additional Materials & Information