Arcitc Observations

Arctic Observations group studies hydrological processes and their changes in the Arctic-Boreal zone using Sodankylä measurement infrastructure.

Sodankylä multichannel microwave radiometers at the wetland site providing reference measurements to space borne instruments. Image courtesy of Anna Kontu.

• We maintain snow, soil frost and hydrological observations in Sodankylä and develop new methods for remote sensing and modelling of the water cycle.

• We develop satellite methods for carbon cycle and emission monitoring.

• We participate in preparing for new satellite missions by arranging measurement campaigns and developing methods for analysing satellite observations.

• We participate in numerous projects funded by the European Space Agency and the Research Council of Finland, e.g. ESA-FMI Sodankylä SUPERSITE and RCF Digital waters flagship.

• The group works in both Sodankylä and Helsinki and collaborates within the Earth Observation unit as well as with Greenhouse Gases, Coordination group, Arctic Space Centre, Meteorological Research and Climate System Research units.

Head of Arctic Observations group, Dr. Anna Kontu, also serves as the Sodankylä Research Infrastructure Principal Investigator since 2018. Dr. Kontu is the point of contact and person in charge of the scientific measurement campaign activities as well as all the research equipment and infrastructure at the FMI Arctic Space Centre (FMI-ARC) in Sodankylä.

Additionally, for the ESA-FMI Arctic-Boreal Earth Science, calibration and validation supersite initiative, Prof. Hannakaisa Lindqvist serves as the overarching Principal Investigator, with Dr. Anna Kontu acting as the Co-PI.