Alert Climate Reference CryoNet Station Information
The site is located on the northeastern tip of Ellesmere Island. Soil composition is a mixture of shale and and clay with sparse vegetation. The surface wind tower is located in a slightly depressed area that is generally 2 metres lower than the location of the main instrument area. The area in the immediate vicinity of the station is gently rolling. The terrain slopes down to Alert Inlet which is 1.5 kilometres south of the instrument area. The terrain slopes upwards to the north where it peaks at approximately 73 metres ASL. This rise in the terrain is the location for Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert. A few larger hills that extend 450-600 metres ASL can be found 8 kilometres south of the station. Higher peaks ranging up to 2900 metres are 50 kilometres southwest. Lincoln Sea is the major body of water to the north and east of the station.
Other Networks to Which This CryoNet Station Belongs
GUAN - Global Upper Air Network
GSN - GCOS Surface Network
RBCN - Regional Basic Climatological Network
RBSN - Regional Basic Synoptic Network
Measurement Methods Used
WMO Technical Regulations
CIMO
Data Information
Are the data quality controlled? yes
How are the data accessible? HTTP (web), an existing data center
Data availability (may depend on the variable measured): in near real-time
Measurements
The measurements made at Alert Climate are listed in the following tables. (Note: If End Year is blank, measurements are ongoing.)
Cryosphere Measurements
Element
Variable
Start Year
End Year
Frequency
Snow
Depth
1955
Continuous
Snow
Snow water equivalent
TBD
Continuous
Snow
Snowpack profile
TBD
Continuous
Seaice
Thickness
1959
Continuous
Freshwater
Thickness
1950
Continuous
Atmosphere Measurements
Element
Variable
Start Year
End Year
Frequency
Met
Air temperature
1953
Continuous
Met
Humidity/vapour pressure
1953
Continuous
Met
Wind speed and direction
1953
Continuous
Met
Air pressure
1953
Continuous
Met
Total precipitation
1953
Radiation
Downwelling shortwave
1964
2003
Continuous
Measurement Notes and Other Measurements
Category
Description or List
Snow
ECCC MSC Branch (Radar and Upper Air Division) facilitates a bimonthly ten-point snow survey that measures snow depth, water equivalent and density. Recent data is available through MSC with no accessible historical data.
Atmosphere
MSC Data is delivered to WMO via GTS from CWAO (Dorval) and also made available to the general public at http://dd.weather.gc.ca/observations/ (products) and http://dd.weather.gc.ca/bulletins/ (raw bulletins) and Met-ML http://dd.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/observations/swob-ml/
ECCC S&T Branch has a greenhouse gas monitoring station operated by the Climate Research Division with data submitted and available through the GAW World Data Centers.
ECCC S&T Branch has an UV monitoring station operated by the Air Quality Research Division with data available through the GAW World Data Centers.
Other
ECCC MSC Branch (Radar and Upper Air Division)performs aerological soundings twice daily via radiosonde. Continuous pressure, temperature and humidity data (up to 30+km) are available from 1950 to present courtesy of NOAA at: https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/raobs/
