Stations

Antarctic
Arctic

Station

Camp

Shelter

Laboratory

Station

Camp

Shelter

Laboratory

Background

Station code	IN0601
Facility Name	Polish Polar Station Hornsund
Location	Arctic
Current status of facility	Open
Type	Station
Operating country	Poland
INTERACT Status	Station
First opened/Opening year	1957
Operational period	Year-Round

Introduction

Facility name and Operator	The Polish Polar Station in Hornsund is operated by the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences.
Location	The station is situated on the northern shore of the Hornsund Fjord in the South Spitsbergen National Park, Svalbard.
Biodiversity and natural environment	Pristine environment surrounds the station, where glaciers, mountains, valleys, lakes, and rivers are not affected by humans. In 2002, the Polish station, together with the Hornsund Fjord, was recognized as one of six the European Marine Biodiversity Flagship Sites (www.iopan.gda.pl/projects/biodaff). Tundra with many species of lichens, mosses, flowers, and shrubs occupy the raised marine terraces and the lower parts of the mountain slopes. Reindeers, Arctic foxes, and polar bears together with many bird species are living around the station.
History and Facilities	The Polish Polar Station was established in 1957, as a winter base during the 3rd International Geophysical Year 1957/1958. In the 1970s, it was used by Polish research expeditions during summers only. The station was renovated in 1978 and has been in operation year-round since then. Today, the station is a modern research platform with access to well-equipped laboratories and satellite communication. Accommodation and research facilities for 20 visitors (in addition to the permanent staff of 10 persons) are available. There is also a well equipped workshop, a boat house, and a storage hall at the Station.
General research and databases	The research at the Polish Polar Station focuses on meteorology, glaciology, monitoring of geophysical fields (i.e. seismology, geomagnetism, atmospherical electricity), permafrost, and geomorphic processes. The main study objectives are related to the evolution of the high arctic environment with respect to Climate Change. Projects include research on mass and energy balance of glaciers, fluctuations and changes of their hydrothermal state, and dynamics of tidewater glaciers and their interaction with the ocean. Changes in marine and terrestrial ecosystems are systematically studied.
Human dimension	Longyearbyen, the administrative center and the largest settlement of Svalbard is located approximately 130 km from the Hornsund station.
Access	There are no roads between other settlements on Svalbard and the Polish Polar Station in Hornsund. During the summer season, the Station can be reached by ships or yachts. Helicopter may be used all year-round but requires the Governor's landing permission. In spring, the Station can be reached by snow scooters, depending on sea ice and snow conditions.

Operator

Facility operator/manager	Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences
Type of entity	Government
Institution managing/operating the facility	Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences
Contact facility	polar@igf.edu.pl, hornsund@igf.edu.pl

Data Source

Name of contact person	Wlodzimierz Sielski
Email	sielski@igf.edu.pl

Partner Institution

Partnership

Location

Station code	IN0601
Geographical coordinates - Latitude	77° 0' 0'' N
Geographical coordinates - Longitude	15° 33' 0'' E
Region	European Arctic
Altitude of facility (m)	9
Min. altitude within study area (m)	0
Max. altitude within study area (m)	750
Nearest town/settlement	Longyearbyen
Distance to nearest town/settlement (km)	130
Distance to nearest transport facility (airstrip/helipad/dock - km)	130
Distance to nearest station (km)	130
Type of surface facility built on	Ice-free ground
Other type of surface	marine terrace

Climate

Permafrost	Continuous
Climate zone	High Arctic
Precipitation type	Snow and Rain
Total annual precipitation (mm)	453
Mean annual wind speed (km/h)	6
Max wind speed (km/h)	45
Dominant wind direction	E
Mean annual temperature (°C)	-4
Mean temperature in January (°C)	-10.2
Mean temperature in February (°C)	-10
Mean temperature in March (°C)	-10.3
Mean temperature in April (°C)	-8.2
Mean temperature in May (°C)	-2.5
Mean temperature in June (°C)	2.1
Mean temperature in July (°C)	4.5
Mean temperature in August (°C)	4.2
Mean temperature in September (°C)	1.7
Mean temperature in October (°C)	-3.1
Mean temperature in November (°C)	-6.2
Mean temperature in December (°C)	-9.1
Max. temperature (absolute) - date	31/Jul/15
Max. temperature (absolute) - º C	15.6
Min. temperature (absolute) - date	16/Jan/81
Min. temperature (absolute) - º C	-35.9
Sea Ice Break Up	April; May
Lake Ice Break Up	June; July
River Ice Break Up	May; June
Snow free period	July; August

Features

Features in the facility area

Biological features; Bird colonies; Blue ice; Clear air zone; Coast; Crevasse; Fauna; Fjord; Ice cap or glacier; Lake; Moraine; Mountain; Permanent snowpatches; Rivers; Rock; Sea; Sea ice; Shoreline; Snow; Tundra; Valley

Disciplines

Main science disciplines

Atmospheric chemistry and physics; Climatology; Climate change; Ecology; Environmental sciences; Geocryology; Geodesy; Geology; Geomorphology; Geophysics and seismology; GIS; Glaciology; Mapping; Marine biology; Microbiology; Oceanography; Pollution; Sedimentology; Social science; Terrestrial biology

Human Activities

Human activity	No
Long term monitoring	Yes
Waste management	Yes
Hazard[ous] management	Yes
Fuel spill response capability	Yes

Infrastructure

Station code	IN0601
Area under roof (m2)	1550
Scientific laboratories (m2)	120
Type of scientific laboratories	Biology; Chemistry; Geology; Geophysics; Scientific diving
Conference room (capacity)	0
Logistics (m2)	500
Number of beds	40
Showers	Yes
Laundry facilities	Yes
Power supply (type)	Fossil fuel
Power supply (V)	400
Power supply (hours per day)	24
Hydroponics facilities	No

Staff Capacity

Number of staff on station (peak/summer season)	16
Number of scientists on station (peak/summer season)	20
Number of staff on station (off peak/winter season)	10
Number of scientists on station (off peak/winter season)	10
Max number of personnel at a time (staff, scientists and other)	40
Number of tourists (annual average)	0

Scientific Equipment

Specific devices / Scientific equipment)	Standard chemical laboratory equipment, Liquid Ion chromatography, Differential GPS, Geodetic surveying equipment, Automatic Weather Station, Seismometers, Flux gate
Scientific services	Technical support, chemical analyses
Long-term monitoring/observations	Glacier mass balance, Meteorology, Seismology, Earth magnetism, Hydrology, Oceanography, Atmospheric Physics

Medical Facilities

Medical facilities	Yes
Area of medical facility (m2)	5
Staff with relevant training	Non-medical trained person
Beds	1
Capability	Basic
Distance to hospital (km)	130
Staff with basic medical training or doctor (summer)	1
Staff with basic medical training or doctor (winter)	1
Closest emergency facility in Antarctica (km)	0
Closest emergency facility external (km)	130
Compulsory safety equipment	Rifles, Signal pistols, first aid kits
Recommended safety equipment	Avalanche Beacon, Satellite phone
Medical research capabilities	No
Medical screening requirements	No

Vehicles

Sea transportation	boats (vessels can anchor c. 500 m from the coastline)
Land transportation	Snowmobiles

Workshop facilities

Mechanical

Communications

Computer; E-mail; Internet; Printer; Satellite phone; Scanner; VHF

Access

Station code	IN0601
Access	Air; Land; Sea

Aircraft landing facilities

Number of airstrips	0
Length (m) of longest runway	0
Width (m) of longest runway	0
Helipad	Yes

Transport and freight

Transport to facility	Helicopter; Ship; Skidoo
Other transport	snowmobiles
No. of ship visits per year	3
Period of ship visits per year	June; July; August; September
Ship landing facilities	None
Other landing facilities	Helipad
No. of flight visits per year	4
Period of flight visits per year	January; February; March; April; December

Access To The Facility

Permits required for access to the facility	Yes
Permits required for studies	Yes
Contact person	Wlodzimierz Sielski
Email contact	sielski@igf.edu.pl
Website (operator/manager)	www.igf.edu.pl, www.hornsund.pl