The objective of GeoBasis is to provide long term data of hydrological and terrestrial variables describing the dynamics of the physical and geomorphological environment at Zackenberg.
Collected data will be used to improve current model predictions for future changes in the terrestrial ecosystem and to quantify the feedback mechanisms from the high arctic ecosystem to the climate.
Since 2003, GeoBasis has been operated by Department for Arctic Environment, National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University in co-operation with Institute of Geography, University of Copenhagen.
The monitoring of GeoBasis includes the seasonal and spatial variations in snow cover and local microclimate in the Zackenberg area, the water balance of Zackenbergelven drainage basin, the sediment, solute and organic matter yield of Zackenbergelven, the seasonal development of the active layer, its temperature conditions and its soil water chemistry, the dynamics of selected coastal and periglacial landscape elements like rates of solifluction and ice wedge growth, cliff reccesion and changes of shore profiles.
GeoBasis Manual (PDF 10.5 MB).
Contact:
Dr. Mikkel P. Tamstorf,
National Environmental Research Institute (NERI)
Aarhus University
Mikkel Tamstorf's CV