@article{0c05a701e2534a7cbbef99df42c2cc02,
title = "Field activities at the SIGMA-A site, northwestern Greenland Ice Sheet, 2017",
abstract = "During spring 2017, we conducted research expeditions to the SIGMA-A site, which is located on the northwestern Greenland Ice Sheet. We maintained an automated weather station (AWS) to enable continuous meteorological observations. We extended 1.5-m long poles of the AWS and replaced two aerovane sensors, two thermo-hydrometers and an ultrasonic snow gauge. We also drilled an ice core and recovered a core with a total length of 60.06m, conducted stratigraphic observations, and measured the density of the ice core. In addition, we conducted snow-pit observations and snow sampling, measured the specific surface area of snow using near-infrared reflectance, performed sunphotometry observations, and measured the spectral albedo. To schedule research activities in the field camp and helicopter pick-up flights, we received weather forecasts from the Meteorological Research Institute of Japan through the Internet using a satellite phone every day. We took a male dog to the field camp to alert us to approaching animals.",
keywords = "Automated weather station, Greenland Ice Sheet, Ice core, Qaanaaq, SIGMA-A",
author = "Sumito Matoba and Masashi Niwano and Tomonori Tanikawa and Yoshinori Iizuka and Tetsuhide Yamasaki and Yutaka Kurosaki and Teruo Aoki and Akihiro Hashimoto and Masahiro Hosaka and Shin Sugiyama",
note = "Funding Information: the snow type and grain size as physical parameters to represent the state of the snow. These values were obtained from observations of the snow, various meteorological and optical parameters measured by AWS instruments, and whole-sky images taken with a sky-camera system (Aoki et al., 2014a). Tanikawa et al. (2014) reported that the degree of polarization of the near-infrared reflected irradiance from the snow surface depended on the grain size of the surface snow, determined using data from field measurements at SIGMA-A and a flat field in Hokkaido, Japan. Aoki et al. (2014b) attributed the increase in the concentration of impurities (elemental carbon, organic carbon, and mineral dust) on the snow surface to the effects of sublimation/ evaporation and snow melt amplification associated with the drastic surface melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet observed at SIGMA-A site in 2012. We conducted our first research expedition to the SIGMA-A site since 2014 from 22 May to 6 June 2017. In this report, we summarize our field activities and the preliminary results of our expedition. The research expedition was conducted as part of the SIGMA-II Project, the Arctic Challenge for Sustainability (ArCS) project, and the Experimental Research Fund for Global Environment Conservation, funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan. Funding Information: This project was launched as a collaborative program between the SIGMA-II project, ArCS, and the Experimental Research Fund for Global Environment Conservation, which is supported by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment. The project participants were as follows: Dr. Sumito Matoba (Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido Univ.), leader and ice core drilling. Dr. Masashi Niwano (Meteorological Research Institute), AWS maintenance, spectral albedo measure ments. Dr. Tomonori Tanikawa (Meteorological Research Institute), AWS maintenance, sun-photometric measurements, and observations of the optical properties of the snow pack. Dr. Yoshinori Iizuka (Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido Univ.), ice core drilling and analyses, snow observations. Mr. Tetsuhide Yamasaki (Avangnaq/Institute of Arctic Observation Support), chief of logistics and safety management. Mr. Yutaka Kurosaki (Hokkaido Univ.), ice core drilling and analyses; snow observations. Dr. Teruo Aoki (Okayama Univ.), ground support in Japan and Qaanaaq. Dr. Masahiro Hosaka and Dr. Akihiko Hashimoto (Meteorological Research Institute), ground support in Japan Funding Information: We thank Air Greenland A/S and their Bell 212 pilot, Gear Paulsen, for supporting our flight operations and Sakiko Daorana, Navarana K'avigak, Toku Oshima, Kim Petersen, and Sofie Jensen for their logistical support in Qaanaaq. We also thank Hiroshi Utsumi of the Institute of Arctic Observation Support, Koichi Seki of Toyo Trans, and Daiki Sakakibara of Hokkaido University for transporting the ice core and equipment. The map shown in Fig. 1 is created by Nuna GIS (http://en.nunagis.gl/) operated by Asiaq, Greenland Survey. This study was supported in part by (1) JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP16H01772 and JP15H01733; (2) the Arctic Challenge for Sustain ability Project (ArCS); (3) the Experimental Research Fund for Global Environment Conservation, Ministry of the Environment, Japan; (4) a grant from the Joint Research Program of the Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University; and the (5) Okhotsk Network Program from the Pan-Okhotsk Research Center, Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University.",
year = "2018",
doi = "10.5331/BGR.18R01",
language = "English",
volume = "36",
pages = "15--22",
journal = "Bulletin of Glaciological Research",
issn = "1345-3807",
publisher = "Japanese Society of Snow and Ice",
}