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University of Cologne instruments at UNIS
Contact: Kerstin Ebell
The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) is located in Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Norway). Longyearbyen is on the south side of the Adventfjorden. The area is mountainous, featuring seasonal snow cover, a typical tundra system, and glaciers. Within the CLOUDMAPS project, the Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology cooperates with UNIS and operates a Micro Rain Radar and a Parsivel on the roof of the UNIS building. The measurements are also supported by the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre TR 172 “ArctiC Amplification: Climate Relevant Atmospheric and SurfaCe Processes, and Feedback Mechanisms (AC)³” ((AC)³).
The coordinates of the instruments at UNIS are:
- Latitude: 78° 13' 21.3“ N = 78.22257 °N
- Longitude: 15° 38' 08.7” E = 15.65241 °E
- Altitude: 22.5 m ASL (= surface altitude (10 m) + building&pole (12.5 m))
Scientific Goals
“Cloud and Precipitation Observations, Modeling, And Prediction in Svalbard” (CLOUDMAPS) is a collaborative Arctic research network focused on improving the monitoring, understanding, and prediction of clouds and precipitation in Svalbard. It is funded by the Research Council of Norway. By integrating advanced observations, high-resolution modeling, and operational forecasting expertise, the project enhances knowledge of Arctic weather processes, supports improved weather prediction for aviation and society, and strengthens cooperation and data sharing between research institutions in Ny-Ålesund and Longyearbyen. CLOUDMAPS is a joint effort by MET Norway, UNIS, the University of Cologne, and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
Data quicklook browser
Overview of instruments
If you are interested in data, please contact Kerstin Ebell
| Instrument | Time of operation | Measurements | Related Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro Rain Radar Quicklooks | 23 Jan 2026–ongoing | Doppler spectrum moments, Doppler spectrum of precipitating particles | snowfall and rainfall rates |
| Parsivel Quicklooks | 10 Dec 2025–ongoing | Precipitation particle size distribution and fall velocities | Precipitation type, rain rate (for liquid precip) |
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the funding by the Research Council of Norway (CLOUDMAPS, Project Number 359136) and by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG712 (German Research Foundation) - project number 268020496 - TRR 172, within the Transregional Collaborative Research Center “ArctiC Amplification: Climate Relevant Atmospheric and SurfaCe Processes, and Feedback Mechanisms (AC)3”.