SCANNET

Contact Details

Abisko Scientific Research Station
S- 981 07 Abisko
Sweden
Phone: +46 980 400 21
Fax: +46 980 401 71
Director: Terry Callaghan
Email:
Webpage: www.ans.kiruna.se

Location

The Abisko Research station is located at the shore of Lake Torneträsk in Northern Sweden (68º 21' N, 18º 49' E) approximately 200 km north of the Arctic Circle.

Mean temperature in January: -12º C
Mean temperature in July: 11º C
Mean annual precipitation: ~400 mm

Biodiversity

Wide range of ecosystems from pine forest at low altitude in East to alpine tundra in the west

Human Dimension

Reindeer husbandry, fishing, hunting tourism and research dominate

Species Performance

Records and experiments on plant development and plan animal interaction exist

General Research

The emphasis of staff research is on plant ecology, geomorphology and meteorology. The main objectives of the ecological projects are to study the dynamics of plant populations, to identify the controlling factors at species latitudinal and altitudinal limits, to understand ecosystem structure and function and to predict impacts of global environmental change. The meteorological projects deal with recent climate changes in the region, and also with local variations of the microclimate in sub-alpine and alpine ecosystems. The geomorphology research focuses on the mass wasting of mountains and sediment transport.

Existing Data Bases

Bibliography of publications arising from research at the station, climate records, biological and physical parameters modelling.

History and Facilities

Since 1912 the Abisko Scientific Research Station has been operated year round by the Royal Academy of Sciences. Accommodation is available in 28 rooms with 2 beds, 6 rooms with 4 beds and in 2 family apartments. The station consists of new or recently renovated buildings. The 37 work rooms and laboratories have general equipment like ovens, water and sewage, refrigerator, scales and ventilation hoods, but the station can also provide more specialised facilities. Examples are chemistry-, GIS-, Remote sensing-, wet-, radio-, and geo-laboratories etc. The station has a library with limited number of geo- and eco-science journals and a range of relevant textbooks. All of the station's computers are networked and access to email and Internet is provided. Access telephone, fax and copy machines is provided. At the station there are two lecture theatres that together host almost 100 guests.

Transportation

Abisko Scientific Research Station is reached by car, bus or train. Within one hour car journey there are two airports, Evenes in Norway and Kiruna in Sweden.