Meteorological and snow data from Aboa, 2014-2015.

The task of the project was to perform various atmospheric and snow measurements in the vicinity of the Finnish research station Aboa. The measurement period was from 4 December, 2014, to 30 January, 2015. Two ten-metre-high weather masts were set up, enabling the measurement of the vertical distribution of air temperature and wind speed. In addition, a set of sodar antennae was deployed in order to measure the structure of the atmospheric boundary layer. Radiation measurements were carried out in four different places. Also, two automatic tripod-type weather stations were installed to make year-around weather observations at the top of the Basen nunatak and near the coast. On sea ice, an automatic buoy was deployed for measurement of sea ice vertical temperature profile. Test flights with remotely piloted quadrocopters, equipped with meteorological sensors, were performed. Most of the snow measurements were made at Snow Site, located 3.5 km from the Aboa station. In addition, two snow pits were measured at AWS5 weather station, 10 km away from the station. Profiles of snow density and temperature were measured, snow stratigraphy and grain types by layer were determined, and snow hardness was estimated. Snow grains were macro-photographed from six set depths down to 20 cm depth for snow grain size calculations. Spectral reflectance profile was measured from the same block of snow. Photographs were taken of a plate inserted in snow for surface roughness calculations. Snow spectral reflectance and albedo were measured on days with clear or completely overcast sky. Snow mass balance was measured by measuring the changes in surface height at three locations, and snow temperature profile evolution was measured using four logging temperature sensor setups.