Summit Station (720 36' North, 380 25' West), a National Science Foundation research platform at the Summit of the Greenland ice sheet, has been in operation since 1988. It has long been a challenge to meet the living needs of a human population at this station located at 72o 36' N latitude, at an altitude of 10,600 feet with a mean annual air temperature of -31o C. The station consists of three primary structures, with temporary shelters erected seasonally. The permanent facilities include: the Big House which serves as the kitchen, dining hall, office, and houses a complete bathroom and laundry facility; the Green House/Berthing Module, a joint science laboratory and berthing facility with lab and office facilities; and the Shop, a weatherport which houses the generators and is used for maintenance of rolling stock. A redundant 100 kW diesel generator system provides all of the electricity on station (actual capacity at 10,600 feet ~ 70 kW). The generator rejects heat through a snow melter to supply water to the facilities. The permanent facilities are mostly heated with electric space heat and lighted with fluorescent fixtures.
Researchers proposing/planning to work at Summit should read the Summit Station Users' Guide for more information.
- Access - Access to Summit Station is by aircraft which land on a 15,000’ by 200’ snow runway. This is a prepared and regularly groomed landing area for ski-equipped aircraft.
- Lodging - Sleeping accommodations for the summer season is in unheated tents (Arctic Ovens). Winter berthing is indoors.
- Communications - The camp is equipped with a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) internet system and telephone link, HF radio, Inmarsat Standard-C telex, and one lnmarsat Mini-M satellite telephone. Email, data transfers, and telephone access are available to researchers and staff.
- Postal Mail - Incoming mail is flown in from Kangerlussuaq each flight period. Outgoing mail is delivered back to Kangerlussuaq. All mail service is via international mail through Denmark. Airmail takes approximately one week from the U.S. to the Greenland coast. When sending mail to Summit, allow an additional one to two weeks.
- Food Services - The Summit Station is staffed with a cook. Meals will be provided 6 days a week. On Sunday all camp personnel are asked to assist with meals.
- Medical Services - CH2M HILL Polar Services contracts with Medical Advisory Service (MAS) for all locations. During April-August an on-site paramedic at Summit provides 24 hour a day on-call medical advice for emergency and non-emergency medical issues. In addition all camps have at least one Wilderness First Responder certified staff member responsible for coordinating all medical issues.
- Altitude Sickness - Click here for additional altitude advice.
- Telephone - Project related phone calls and limited personal calls may be made from Summit using a telephone with a U.S. exchange. Calls are billed with Florida as the origin. Inbound calls or faxes to Summit are possible.
- Webcam - (http://www.summitcamp.org/) Summit Station is open and will have the webcam up and running soon. Please check back.
- Additional Information -
Please contact the Greenland Science Support Manager for further information.
Pictured above: Summit Station. Annie Coward changing a filter on an aerosol sampler at Summit Station. Photo by Andrea Isgro.