Greenland Integrated Observing System

The purpose of Greenland Integrated Observation System (GIOS) is to develop a new research infrastructure providing a sustained long-term observation network of central climate, ecosystem and societal variables at a number of key sites around Greenland representing not only the entire Greenland but a climate gradient representing the Arctic as a whole.

As part of the new GIOS monitoring infrastructure, DTU Civil Engineering will establish 6 new permafrost monitoring stations in West Greenland on a transect from Sisimiut to Kangerlussuaq. The area between Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq is the widest non-glaciated region in West Greenland, it spans coastal and continental climates, and is uniquely situated on the border between areas with and without permafrost. It is therefore optimally chosen for long-term monitoring of regional changes in permafrost conditions. Data from the network will contribute to development of modelling tools to forecast permafrost changes in other parts of Greenland and the Arctic, it will be valuable as decision support for infrastructure development, and will contribute to validation of regional and global climate models.

The project is a collaboration between: Copenhagen University (KU), Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR), Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), ASIAQ Greenland Survey (ASIAQ), Aalborg University (AAU).