Observation Facility Catalogue

This catalogue has been developed to provide an overview of the observation facilities which collect SIOS data. An observation facility can be one instrument or a collection of instruments, e.g. a weather station, and is a term used by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The annotation is standardised following the WMO standards as far as possible, in order to make entries unambiguous and interoperable internationally.

How to add observation facilities

To enter data in the Observation Facility Catalogue, you must be logged in and have assigned the role "RI responsible" by the administrator. Please contact the Observing Network Infrastructure Officer to have this role assigned to your account.

How to enter data into the Observation Facility Catalogue (pdf)

SUBMIT DATA TO THE OBSERVATION FACILITY CATALOGUE

About OFC

The purpose of the catalogue is to make better use of the existing research infrastructure by facilitating the search for given parameters and their location. In this way, duplication can be avoided and new measurements can be co-located with existing ones. The catalogue may also be used to gain a simple overview of collected parameters and how to access the data. The search interface allows users to search for GCMD keywords or to filter by status, type or observatory. The map interface may be used to search in a particular area.

The catalogue was developed by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, with input from a task force consisting of representatives from the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Alfred Wegener Institute. NySMAC members and RICC gave valuable input on the test version.

Integration of GIOS infrastructures

In addition to the SIOS records, this catalogue has the option to display research infrastructures from the Greenland Integrated Observing System (GIOS). The default view displays only SIOS research infrastructures. To see GIOS research infrastructures, use the menu to the right to filter. Records are fetched from the Isaaffik website.

How to use the REST Export endpoint

The REST endpoint (see the right panel below the filters), can be used to query the catalogue in a machine-readable way. See an example on how to query the json endpoint in this notebook:

https://github.com/SIOS-Svalbard/sios-ofc-notebook/

Observation Facility Variables Contact Additional Information
Under Water Remote Operated Observing System (REMOS)
BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION>ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES>FISH
Continiously every 30 min, 0 - 11 m depth, Underwater stero webcam for fish observations. Part of COSYNA_Network
,
BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION>ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES>CNIDARIANS>JELLYFISHES
Continiously every 30 min, 0 - 11 m depth, Underwater stero webcam for fish observations. Part of COSYNA_Network
Philipp Fischer
Philipp.Fischer@awi.de
Alfred Wegener Institute
Type: underwater platform (fixed)
Status: Operational
RIS ids: 5742
Core data: No
Underwater Fish Antenna
BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION>ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES>FISH
Ultra-violet Radio-frequency identification (RFID) Fish Antenna. 40*100cm + Steering nets for fish (10m to each side), 40 Hz - 125KHz
Markus Brand
markus.brand@awi.de
Alfred Wegener Institute
Type: underwater platform (fixed)
Status: Closed
RIS ids: 6812
Site info: Old pier
Core data: No
Underwater Soundscape Station
OCEANS>OCEAN ACOUSTICS>AMBIENT NOISE
SM2 submersible;ST500
every 6-12 months
acoustic measurements are made using two passive acoustic recordings (Wildlife Acoustics sm2 and SoundTrap 500) with a sampling frequency up to 196 kHz. Data are stored in wav files.
Giuseppa Buscaino
giuseppa.buscaino@cnr.it
National Research Council of Italy
Type: sea platform (fixed)
Status: Operational
RIS ids: 6616
Site info: The two acoustic moorings (Position and depth: 79°03.219’ N - 11°32.830’E - 72 m 78° 54.743’ N - 12° 24.308’ E - 79 m), operational since May 2014, is located in the Kongsfjorden. The first mooring was located in the inner part of Kongsfjorden at a distance of approximately 4 km from the Kronebreen glacier front, one of the largest fast-flowing and actively calving marine-terminating glacier streams of the Svalbard Islands; the second mooring was located at the mouth of the fjord, 27 km away from the Kronebreen glacier.
The fjord oceanography is regulated by the mixing of melting ice, cold Arctic waters, and warmer Atlantic water masses. Actively calving marine-terminating glaciers supply icebergs and freshwater input, which, together with other physical factors, determine the local species composition. Glacier fronts are upwelling areas for zooplankton and attract many top predators. However, climate-induced changes in oceanographic conditions are significantly altering Kongsfjorden habitats. Tidewater glaciers in Kongsfjorden are retreating, and recently, during the wintertime, sea ice formed only in the inmost parts of the fjord.
Core data: No
Uværsøyra - Leinstranda Sound stations for ptarmigan
BIOSPHERE>ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS>COMMUNITY DYNAMICS>INDICATOR SPECIES
seasonal
Eva Fuglei
eva.fuglei@npolar.no
Norwegian Polar Institute
Type: land platform (fixed)
Status: Operational
RIS ids: 2240
Site info: Listening boxes for ptarmigan installed seasonally

Very broad band seismological station
SOLID EARTH>TECTONICS>EARTHQUAKES>SEISMIC PROFILE
Measurements started June 1967 with analog registrations on photo paper. From august 1985 digital registration on tape. The seismological vbb-station KBS (very broad band station) at Ny Ålesund is operating since November 1994 and replaces the former WWSSN station operated by the Institute of Solid Earth Physics, University Bergen.
Helge Johnsen
Helge.Johnsen@geo.uib.no
University of Bergen
Type: land platform (fixed)
Status: Operational
RIS ids: 2278
Site info: Ny-Ålesund (mine area)
Core data: No
Weather Station UMCS-1 - CALYPSOBYEN
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE>SURFACE TEMPERATURE>AIR TEMPERATURE
Since the beginning of the observations, a variety of measuring instruments and electronic devices have been employed:
- from 1986 to 1996 and in 1998: instrument shelter with mercury thermometers.
- from 1999 to 2002, 2005 to 2016, and in 2021-2023: automatic weather stations (AWS), with different types used during these periods.

HDMCS-100 – Meteo Compact was used during the summer seasons of 2022 and 2023.
https://www.deltaohm.com/product/hdmcs-100-all-in-one-meteo-compact-station/
Maintenance and operation of the weather station occur exclusively during the summer months as part of the Maria Curie-Sklodowska Polar Expeditions, specifically in June, July, and August.
AWS - Sampling every 10 min and saving to internal memory.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE>ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC WINDS>SURFACE WINDS
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC RADIATION>SOLAR RADIATION
,
ATMOSPHERE>PRECIPITATION>PRECIPITATION RATE
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC WATER VAPOR>WATER VAPOR INDICATORS>HUMIDITY>RELATIVE HUMIDITY
Piotr Zagórski
piotr.zagorski@mail.umcs.pl
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin
Type: land platform (fixed)
Status: Partly operational
RIS ids: 11672, 12193, 11620, 11363, 10165, 6784, 4981, 1169, 951, 3918, 5762
Site info: Meteorological observations have been carried out since 1986 during summer Polar Expedition organized by Maria Curie-Sklodowska University. Until 1998, these observations were conducted using analog methods, which included the use of mercury thermometers inside instrument shelters. Since 1999, automatic weather stations (AWS) have been employed. Depending on the type of station, various meteorological parameters were recorded. In general, the following variables were monitored: air temperature at 2 meters above ground, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, precipitation, solar radiation, and ground temperature (at ground level).
AWS units were installed either on meteorological masts or on aluminum tripods.

2022-2023 - AWS is installed on an aluminum tripod.
The temperature sensors are positioned at a height of approximately 2 meters above the land surface.

Project “Autonomous quasi-distributed optical fiber temperature sensor for ground temperature measurements” (SPILOD), as part of the Smart Growth Operational Programme 2014-2020 3/4.1.1/2019 Joined Venture named “Lublin Upland of Photonic Technologies” implemented by the National Centre for Research and Development.
Project period: 01.01.2021 - 31.12.2023 (2029)
Weather hut
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE>SURFACE TEMPERATURE>AIR TEMPERATURE
Part of GRUAN network.
Data are obtained continously.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC WATER VAPOR>WATER VAPOR INDICATORS>HUMIDITY>RELATIVE HUMIDITY
Part of GRUAN network.
Data are obtained continously.
Marion Maturilli
Marion.Maturilli@awi.de
Alfred Wegener Institute
Type: land platform (fixed)
Status: Operational
RIS ids: 1118
Site info: Ny-Ålesund (AWIPEV balloon house)

Core data: No
Weather station Adventdalen
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE>SURFACE TEMPERATURE>AIR TEMPERATURE
Campbell logger
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC WATER VAPOR>WATER VAPOR INDICATORS>HUMIDITY
Campbell logger.
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC WINDS>SURFACE WINDS>WIND SPEED
Campbell logger.
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC WINDS>SURFACE WINDS>WIND DIRECTION
Campbell logger.
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>PRECIPITATION>PRECIPITATION AMOUNT
Campbell logger.
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>PRECIPITATION>ACCUMULATIVE CONVECTIVE PRECIPITATION
Campbell logger.
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>PRECIPITATION>PRECIPITATION RATE
Campbell logger.
Network every hour.
,
CRYOSPHERE>SNOW/ICE>SNOW DEPTH
Campbell logger.
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE>SURFACE TEMPERATURE
Campbell logger.
Network every hour.
Stefan Claes
stefanc@unis.no
The University Centre in Svalbard
Type: land platform (fixed)
Status: Operational
Core data: No
Weather station Akseløya
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE>SURFACE PRESSURE
Campbell logger
Data received on irridium sat every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE>SURFACE TEMPERATURE>AIR TEMPERATURE
Campbell logger
Data received on irridium sat every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC WATER VAPOR>WATER VAPOR INDICATORS>HUMIDITY
Campbell logger
Data received on irridium sat every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC WINDS>SURFACE WINDS>WIND SPEED
Campbell logger
Data received on irridium sat every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC WINDS>SURFACE WINDS>WIND DIRECTION
Campbell logger
Data received on irridium sat every hour.
-
-
Norwegian Meteorological Institute
Landing Page: https://oscar.wmo.int/surface/#/search/station/stationReportDetails/0-20000-0-0…
Type: land platform (fixed)
Status: Operational
Core data: No
Weather station Barentsburg
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE>SURFACE PRESSURE
ScanMatic logger
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE>SURFACE TEMPERATURE>AIR TEMPERATURE
ScanMatic logger
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC WATER VAPOR>WATER VAPOR INDICATORS>HUMIDITY
ScanMatic logger
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC WINDS>SURFACE WINDS>WIND SPEED
ScanMatic logger
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>ATMOSPHERIC WINDS>SURFACE WINDS>WIND DIRECTION
ScanMatic logger
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>PRECIPITATION>ACCUMULATIVE CONVECTIVE PRECIPITATION
ScanMatic logger
Network every hour.
,
ATMOSPHERE>PRECIPITATION>PRECIPITATION AMOUNT
ScanMatic logger
Network every hour.
-
-
Norwegian Meteorological Institute
Type: land platform (fixed)
Status: Closed
Core data: No