Location The Arctic Station is located on the south coast of the Disko Island in central west Greenland (69°15'N, 53°34'W). It faces the Disko Bay / Davis Strait and is characterized by an arctic, marine climate.
Climate Mean temperature in January: ? Mean temperature in July: ? Mean annual precipitation: ?
Biodiversity The botanical terrestrial diversity of the immediate surroundings of the Arctic Station is unique to low Arctic Greenland. This is illustrated by the number of species of flowering plants within walking distance from the station: 212 of the 513 Greenland species are growing here. This diversity is surpassed only at one locality in south Greenland in the boreal birch forest zone. The large number of plant species around Arctic Station is caused by a relatively favourable local climate, lowland as well as high mountains, rich soils and a significant number of homothermic springs.
Human Dimension
Species Performance
General Research Only biologists were granted access to the station from 1953 to 1978. From 1978 and onwards the scientific focus of the station has been widened to encompass also other natural sciences, such as geology and geography. The Arctic Station maintains two automatic climate stations. One is located in the immediate vicinity of the Arctic Station, whereas the other is in Akuliit (Mellemfjord) on the west coast of the Disko Island.
Existing Data Bases
History and Facilities The botanist Morten Petersen Porsild founded the Arctic Station ("Den Danske Arktiske Station") in 1906. The locality selected was ca. 1 km east of Qeqertarsuaq (formerly Godhavn). The idea of establishing an arctic research facility in Greenland was supported by famous explorers of the northern polar regions, e.g. Knud Rasmussen, Mylius-Erichsen and Fridtjof Nansen. The University of Copenhagen became the owner of the research facility in 1953. The station was hereafter named "Arktisk Station".
Transportation The Arctic Station can without problems be visited throughout the year. During the main season (May-September) there are daily connections from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq. From Kangerlussuaq there are multiple daily connections to Ilulissat (formerly Jakobshavn). From Ilulissat there are several weekly connections with helicopter to Qeqertarsuaq (formerly Godhavn).
SCANNET - A
Circumarctic Network of Terrestrial Field Bases | 2010
