New Aurora observatory opened The new Kjell Henriksen Aurora Observatory on Svalbard has been officially opened by the Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher education, Tora Aasland(photo).
- As part of our High North Strategy, the government aims to develop Svalbard as an international research platform. The new Kjell Henriksen Observatory will constitute an important contribution to the research infrastructure on Svalbard, Aasland says.
The opening ceremony took place on Monday in front of the observatory, situated 500 metres above sea level on the Breinosa mountain outside Longyearbyen. The observatory is part of the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS). 70 guests from all over the world, including the Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang, join the minister and UNIS in the celebration of the new northern lights observatory. - Research is one of the main pillars of Norwegian presence on Svalbard, and UNIS is one of the central actors. We believe the new observatory will form the basis for future international research cooperation, Aasland says. 16 scientific organizations from 7 nations are represented with instruments in the new observatory, among them the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, University College of London and the National Institute of Polar Research of Japan. Svalbard has a unique location for research on the daytime northern light, as it placed under the magnetic polar cusp. Studies of this phenomenon was the background for the establishment of the first northern lights observatory in 1978, where cooperation with international partners was developed. The station was moved to the Advent Valley and expanded in 1984. Over the years, light pollution from Longyearbyen, which affects the light-sensitive optical instruments, became an increasing problem. The new observatory will for example facilitate the collection of data which may improve scientists’ understanding of the interaction between solar winds and the Earth’s magnetic fields, and of the effects this may have on the climate. - The International Polar Year 2007-2008 is a huge international research effort of great importance to the northern region, as well as to global challenges. Norway plays an active role, and this forms part of the follow up of the High North strategy, says Aasland. - When the new observatory was planned, the goal was to have it ready for the Polar Year. I am very pleased that this goal was reached. It is positive that the Polar Year leads to increased research activities on Svalbard. I am confident that the observatory will be a welcome contribution to the research infrastructure and give significant results in the future, Aasland adds. (NRK/Press release) Rolleiv Solholm
Tuesday, 19 February 2008 08:02
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