CEDAR email: Sondrestrom Research Facility

[Wiltberger, Michael J]

The Sondrestrom Research Facility (SRF) is a geophysical observatory located near the town of Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, that has provided over three decades of observations of the aurora as well as the polar and cusp regions of the ionosphere.

 Following the recommendations to end Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) operations and investigate options for related observations from the site contained in the 2016 Geospace Portfolio Review (PR), the Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Division (AGS) of NSF’s Geosciences Directorate ended support for research operations at SRF on March 31, 2018.  Since that time NSF has worked with its contractors to monitor site, begin initial cleanup activities, and conducted an engineering and environmental assessment.  This assessment was focused on determining the costs associated with three alternatives, 1) Demolition and Site restoration, 2) Establishing a Geospace Polar Observatory, and 3) Restoring Radar operations.

 While NSF acknowledges the valuable science conducted at the SRF over the years as evidenced by the numerous publications, decades of funding and related research grants, based upon the PR recommendation, community feedback, and the engineering and environmental assessments, NSF has decided to proceed with selecting Alternative 1 – Demolition and Site Restoration.


Michael Wiltberger
Geospace Section Head
mwiltber at nsf.gov<mailto:mwiltber at nsf.gov>
703-292-8519


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