The Troll Observatory, at 1309 m.a.s.l., is 200m east of Norway’s main Troll Antarctic station (at 72º 01’S, 2º 32’ E), in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica, in the Nunatak area of Jutulsessen, about 235 km from the Antarctic coast. 

The observatory has a unique position on the slope from the Antarctic Plateau down to the coast, where marine and continental air masses meet and mix. The observatory’s main purpose is to characterize the composition and seasonal and interannual variability of the atmosphere at this site.

The Troll Observatory was established in January 2007, supported by the Norwegian Antarctic Research Expedition (NARE) programme. It is located approximately 200m east of the main Troll station (at 72º 01’S, 2º 32’ E), in the Nunatak area of Jutulsessen, about 235 km from the Antarctic coast. This is where marine and continental air masses meet and mix. Studies at the site may therefore help to better interpret trace gas measurements from ice cores, which play a central role in climate research.

NILU’s monitoring programme at The Troll Observatory is comprised of the following components:

mercury, surface ozone, aerosols (chemical, physical and optical properties), UV radiation and total ozone, organic pollutants (POPs), hydrocarbons, CO and climate gases (CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs).

An air archive with bi-annual probes is being established for future analyses.

Most research activities in Antarctica are limited to the summer season. The year-around monitoring of the wide variety of pollutants and chemicals at the Troll Observatory improves our knowledge of mechanisms for long-range transport of pollutants to Antarctica. As far as we know, the year-around monitoring of several of these substances (such as POPs, mercury and aerosols) is unique to this area.

We intend to complement the monitoring programme at the Troll Observatory with ongoing measurements at other stations in this part of Antarctica, such as Germany’s Neumayer Station and the UK’s Halley Research Station.

While NILU is scientifically responsible for the activities at the Troll Observatory, its daily operation and maintenance is by technical staff from the main Troll station.

With observatories at Troll in Antarctica and on Zeppelin Mountain in Svalbard, NILU is one of few institutions in the world with atmospheric research observatories at both poles. By comparing data from the two observatories, we hope to obtain important new knowledge on transport and effect mechanisms related to pollution on a global scale and thus contribute to ongoing international research in this field.