The DMI Geophysical Observatory Qaanaaq

Station name and owner

The DMI Geophysical Observatory Qaanaaq is owned and managed by the Danish Meteorological Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Location

The DMI Geophysical Observatory Qaanaaq is located at the outer perimeter of the city of Qaanaaq in North West Greenland. The station connects different monitoring infrastructures in the region. Qaanaaq is a modern Greenlandic town located some distance away from the National Park in NOrth East Greenland and the nature reserve area in the Melville Bay to the south. Still, in particular marine activities are regulated in order not to disturb the Narwhal during summer. The city of Qaanaaq is located on a small peninsula at the northern flank of the deep Inglefield Fjord. A number of glaciers terminate into the fjord and the prominent North Water Winter Polynya reach to the mouth of the fjord. Qaanaaq connects a number of small settlements in the region.

Climate data

Grey colours are WMO Climate Normals including maximum and minimum values. Blue colours are individual years.

Climate data for the stations where extracted via Copernicus Climate Data Store, from the global gridded reanalysis product: ERA5 monthly averaged data on single levels from 1940 to present. Description and source code: Roemer J.K. 2023. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10214922 Data Source: Hersbach et al. 2023. Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Climate Data Store (CDS), https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.f17050d7

Biodiversity and natural environment

Qaanaaq has a cold, dry, tundra climate with running water only during four months a year. The peninsula is covered by a small local ice cap, the Qaanaaq ice cap. The city is based on permafrost and the fjord is covered by land fast ice from December through June.  In summer, Inglefield Fjord is a key habitat for Narwhal and activities in the region includes extensive winter fishing for halibut and hunting of walrus. Musk ox and reindeer populate nearby areas and the surrounding waters (including the productive North-Water polynia) support whales, seals, ploar bears and numerous birdspecies including guillemots and large populations of litle auks (millions).

History and facilities

The DMI Geophysical Observatory Qaanaaq Station was established in the 1950’s and has a local full time manager year round. The main station includes a small workshop but at present no lab facilities. It has an apartment for 2-4 with kitchen and shower. The station meets local standards and stays open year round though some upgrades are planned during the coming years. Internet access and telephone is available and the local manager has a pick-up van.

General research and databases

In addition to classical meteorological measurements, it has served as a multidisciplinary Geophysical Observatory. Ongoing monitoring today includes infrasound and geomagnetism. In the latter years DMI has developed a participatory ocean and cryosphere monitoring program with offset in the station in collaboration with local hunters and with focus on the winter season. Monitoring data are presently only available from DMI data bases.

Station Monitoring

Human dimension

Qaanaaq is a modern Greenlandic town (ca. 500 inhabitants) where subsistence hunting and fishing is an important part of the local economy. Qaanaaq is the gateway to a number of smaller settlements both north and south of the town. Inhabitants has vast knowledge of local ecossytems and climate change, and work extensively with scientists to dicument changes in climate and local hunting/fishing traditions.

Access

Qaanaaq has weekly connecting flights from Ilulissat (AirGreenland), in summer twice a week. Qaanaaq may also be reached by Helicopter from the nearby US airbase in Thule though this will require special permits. In summer, the city is resupplied by ship from Nuuk (Royal Arctic Line). There is no public transport, nor taxies in the city. Pickup from the airport can be arranged with the station manager. Local transport is mainly by small boats in summer and dog sleds during winter.