The history of Svalbard as a research community with focus on space science

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The history of Svalbard as a research community
with focus on space science

• Presentation
• by
• Professor Asgeir Brekke
• at the
• Polar Gateways Arctic Circle Sunrise 2008
• January 24 2008
• UNIS Svalbard

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Ny-Ålesund
Longyearbyen
The Svalbard Archipelago is situated between 78
and 80 N
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The Kjell Henriksen Observatory
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Long history of auroral research in Longyearbyen
The University of Oslo Physics Dept./ Norwegian
Institute for Cosmic Physics Observatory (Omholt
/ Egeland) on Breinosa, October, 1970.
The Auroral Station in Endalen (1978)
The Auroral Station in Adventdalen (1984)
The current shape of the Auroral Station in
Adventdalen (2005)
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The Arctic Service Provider
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Arctic stations in the downrange of Andøya
Rocketrange and the fiberoptic cable between
Andøya and Svalbard
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The EISCAT Svalbard Radar
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Science infrastructure in Longyearbyen
SOUSY Radar Meteor Scatter Radar
SPEAR
Auroral Station
Riometer
Rockets
SvalSat

• (11 - 13m)

UNIS
EISCAT SVALBARD RADAR
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Favourable for Studies of.. - Dayside aurora
borealis - Magnetospheric boundary layer
processes - Magnetic cleft, cap and
cusp SvalRak Launch Site - Ny-Ålesund at 79º
North - Operational since 1997 - Mild
climate - Network of supporting, scientific
instruments available (in Longyearbyen,
Ny-Ålesund and in the Nordic countries) - Owned
and operated by Andøya Rocket Range
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UNIS to the left in front and the science park to
the right
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UNIS and the Sciencepark in front of an open
Adventfjord in April
Photo Gunnar Sand