Description: More than 218,000 rock and debris temperature data, acquired from July 2016 to August 2018 in an alpine experimental glacial basin, in different 12 measurement sites (MS) with different lithological and slope/aspect conditions, at an elevation range from 2600 to 2800 m a.s.l, are present. The temperature data have been acquired by using 10 MadgeTech MicroTemp Data Logger (MT), metrologically referenced and with known measurement uncertainty (0.098 °C).

Description: In a context of cryosphere degradation caused by climate warming, rock temperature is one of the main driving factors of rockfalls that occur on high-elevation mountain slopes. In order to improve the knowledge of this critical relationship, it is necessary to increase measurement capability of rock temperature and its variability in different lithological and slope/aspect conditions, and also to increase local scale studies, increasing the quality and the comparability of the data. Rock temperature data, acquired from July 2018 to July 2022 in an alpine experimental glacial basin (https://deims.org/f8718e56-fb4d-49a3-92a9-3670e7f10ee9), in different two temperature monitoring sites (TMS) with the same lithological conditions (calc-schists) but in two different aspect conditions (South and North), at an elevation range from 2653 to 2667 m a.s.l, are present. The temperature data have been acquired by using six MadgeTech MicroTemp Data Logger (MT), metrologically referenced and with known measurement uncertainty (0.098 °C).

Description: Multitudes of measurements are needed to understand the environment and its evolution. The Arctic region is a fundamental observation area for climate change evaluation: climate change comes first and comes faster in the Arctic. The higher accuracy required to quickly capture trends; the extreme range and conditions of sensors exposure; a robust comparability asked by the different measurement networks; the need of dedicated calibration procedures, together with the logistical problems associated with such remote location, motivate the proposal for a joint effort to address metrology experience and activities for Arctic research applications. The Ny-Ålesund international research base and community offers a unique infrastructure to directly link metrological traceability to on site polar measurements. The contribution reports a study on the implementation of specific calibration procedures, metrological validation of measurements and instrument tests, uncertainties evaluations including quantities of influence, and the feasibility of a metrology laboratory in Ny-Ålesund.

Description: The Arctic research village of Ny-Ålesund (79 ° N, 12 ° E) on the Spitsbergen island of Svalbard archipelago, with its logistics and infrastructure, provides a unique access to the Arctic environment. Among the several international environmental and climate monitoring programmes constantly running there, the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Reference Upper Air Network (GRUAN) has established one of its stations at the Alfred Wegener Institute observatory. Calibration of sensors and measurement traceability are fundamental aspects of climate observations, as requested by the GRUAN measurement procedures. In the framework of the MeteoMet project, a transportable climatic chamber for the calibrations of air temperature and pressure sensors was studied and manufactured. In June 2014, a calibration campaign involved the transport and use of one of those systems in the Ny-Ålesund GRUAN station. The result of the campaign has been the complete calibration of temperature and pressure sensors for radiosonde pre-launch ground checks. The resulting calibration curves were obtained with lower uncertainties and more robust characterization of the sensors, with respect to the usual procedures adopted. Given the opportunity of the calibration device operating already in place and the presence of the metrology staff, the calibration was extended to the sensors equipping the Amundsen-Nobile Climate Change Tower. The present study reports on the ‘Arctic metrology 2014’ campaign and the plans for the establishment of a permanent laboratory for metrology in Ny-Ålesund. The aim is to address the measurement traceability needs arising from the multidisciplinary measurements made by the scientific community operating there.

Description: The Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW), in the context of the framework of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), published the Measurement of Cryospheric Variables, Volume II of the Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observation in 2018, in which best practice for observations of snow parameters was included. As a follow-up effort, measurement best practices for the other cryosphere components are under development, including permafrost and seasonally frozen ground. The measurement best practice for permafrost aims to define reference methods for the configuration and ongoing operation of stations for in situ observations in high mountains and polar regions. It will: address gaps in the existing permafrost monitoring systems, define methods for improving traceability and comparability, recommend instrumental characteristics and provide measurements uncertainty evaluation. A further objective is to support capacity building of countries in terms of developing a permafrost observation network. A Task Team within the framework of GCW was established, to lead the development and publication of a complete guide to the measurements of permafrost variables. The documents in preparation will be coordinated with the ongoing revision of Products and Requirements of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Permafrost Essential Climate Variable (ECV), including existing variables measured by the GTN-P (Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost). Further, the needs of developing Essential Arctic Variables (EAV) and Shared Arctic Variables (SAV) identified at the Arctic Observing Summit (AOS) are considered. The work will be based on existing methodologies, promoting and recommending methods to improve data reliability and traceability, also for the implementation of new stations.