Temperature observations from northernmost Greenland, 2006-2010

Abstract

Air-, surface-, and subsurface temperatures were recorded by automatic weather stations in Bliss Bugt and Moore Gletscher, Johannes V. Jensen Land, North coast of Greenland from 2006-2010. The mean annual surface temperature is -12.1 ℃ in Bliss Bugt and -13.8 ℃ at Moore Gletscher. In 20 cm depth below the surface at Moore Gletscher, the mean annual temperature is -13.2 ℃ (2007-2008). High-amplitude fluctuations of the winter temperature at the surface and in 20 cm depth at Moore Gletscher indicate that the surface has little or no snow cover, possibly due to catabatic winds from the glacier. In contrast, in Bliss Bugt, c. 5 km to the north, the surface temperature series only shows lowamplitude variations during the winters. This indicates a significant snow cover in Bliss Bugt, persisting throughout the winter. The surface temperature series reveals that the surface is snow free from mid-late June to late August in Bliss Bugt.