Glaciology Field Course at Tarfala Research Station, Northern Sweden.
March 27-April 3, 2003
The course is Part 5 of an EU EuroLab
(GlacioEuroLab5) in Glaciology. As an
EU programme we can offer travel and subsistence support to young professional
researchers, especially to Ph.D. students but only for citizens of the EU, and
associated states under Fifth Framework rules.
Participation is limited to 15 for safety and accommodation reasons. The course is worth 3 ECTS credits or 2
Finnish study weeks.
Tarfala Station has a unique place in the
history of glaciology and has been the focus of continuous glaciology work
since 1946. Storglaciaeren in the
immediate vicinity has the longest continuos series of mass balance
measurements in the world.
Accommodation at the station is rustic but
pleasant, with beds in heated huts and sleeping bags will not be needed. Morning and evening meals will be taken in
the station dining room. Travel by rain
and air travel to Kiruna, the nearest town about 90 km from Tarfala. Transportation by bus will be arranged to
Nikkaloukta from where a 30 km trail starts to the station. We will take snowmobile transport from there
to about 5 km from the station then people will have to travel by ski uphill
the remaining way. Return will be
similar meeting snowmobiles 5 km from the station. The luggage can be transported by snowmobile the whole way. The terrain is fairly demanding but
moderately experienced skiers can manage with the right equipment. It is essential to have skis with broad
bases and metal edges - telemark or alpine touring skis. Cross country skis and skinny skating style
skis are useless in those conditions.
Participants should be reasonably fit and have at least a little
experience of skiing before the course starts.
Tarfala Station costs are Euro 100 per
participant per day for meals and accommodation. Snowmobile transport costs will be covered by the
organizers. Basic safety equipment will
be available, but students are expected to bring their own ski equipment.
The workshop will include a variety of field
techniques, plus lectures to explain the broad theoretical background in
glaciology and the context of the filed measurements that will form the core of
the course. Most of the time is planned
to spent outside working on the ice, but of course this is entirely weather
dependent.
Students are expected to bring a presentation
of their work to give to the course during an evening. Students are also expected to write a field
report of good standard on the techniques and data used during the course. Previous reports are available.
The course programme is now available.
Initial training will be given in glacier
safety techniques such as use of avalanche transponders, ropes, harnesses, ice
axes and crampons. Much of the work is
practical in nature, the students will be split in to small groups accompanied
by a lecturer who will give extensive guidance to all groups of students. The groups will rotate around the various
topics on each day, or as weather permits.
John Moore, Arctic Centre, University of
Lapland
Members of the University of Stockholm
Department of Geography who are at the station during the course.
Application:
Send a brief description of your experience
and how the course would benefit you, before February 15 2003. Students will be
more likely to be selected if they find cheap methods of travelling.
Contact:
Dr. John C. Moore phone +358
16 341 2757
Arctic Centre telefax +358 16 341 2777
University of Lapland
Box 122 email jmoore@levi.urova.fi
96101 Rovaniemi
Finland http://www.urova.fi/home/hkunta/jmoore/johnpage.htm