• 78.907°N 11.889°E 475 m a.s.l.

Observational platform

Norway

• Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU)
• Norwegian Polar Institute
• Stockholm University

• Radovan Krejci
  PI deputy
• Chris Lunder
  Facility PI
• Dorothea Schulze
  PI deputy

The Zeppelin observatory is located in Ny-Ålesund on north-western Spitsbergen. The station is located on a mountain top, surrounded by glaciers, mountains, and the sea. Ny-Ålesund is permanently inhabited by about 30 people and additional ~150 scientists during summer peak season. The Observatories unique location at 475 m altitude makes it an ideal place for monitoring of global atmospheric gasses and long-transported contaminants. Since the Zeppelin Observatory is above the inversion layer most of the time, the influence from local contamination sources on the measurements is minimal. The observatory is owned by the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), which is responsible for maintenance and daily management. NILU is responsible for the scientific coordination, whereas NILU, Stockholm University, and NPI are the primary users.

Measurements at the Zeppelin station will characterize the long-ranged transport of airmasses. The observation programme covers physical, optical, and chemical composition of aerosol particle, as well as many long and short-lived trace gases.

• Platt et al. (2022). Atmospheric composition in the European Arctic and 30 years of the Zeppelin Observatory, Ny-Ålesund. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22(5), 3321-3369. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3321-2022
• Groot Zwaaftink et al. (2022). What caused a record high PM₁₀ episode in northern Europe in October 2020?. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22(6), 3789-3810. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3789-2022