1. Executive Summary (Roger??) Summit Station is an essential facility in the network of Arctic Observatories. It is uniquely located at high elevation on the ice sheet providing access to the free troposphere. Furthermore, it is the only northern hemisphere location for true polar ice sheet intercomparisons with Antarctic analogs. In recent years demand has grown and significant infrastructure enhancements are required. Vision: Model Polar Research Facility Meets requirements for interdisciplinary research programs: –Intensive campaign studies –Long term observations –Test bed for new sensors and technology Infrastructure enhancements and energy increases are provided with sustainable and renewable (RE) resources Fossil Fuel progressively displaced by Renewable Energy

2. Summit in IASOA and AON: Unique Arctic ice sheet facility Only high elevation station Regularly samples polar dome air Representative of northern hemispheric conditions, free of regional influence

3. Summit –At the peak of the Greenland ice sheet. –No significant melting (yet!) – Production of NO x in sunlit snow, discovered at Summit in 1998, helped launch field of snow photochemistry. –Degassing of hydrogen peroxide & formaldehyde from snow create highly oxidizing environment near snow surface Dome protecting GISP2 ice core drill, 1989-93

4. Science Justification (Roger/John??) Created as seasonal drill camp in 1989, seasonal atmospheric sampling also began Year-round international observatory since 2003 Contributes to GAW, AON, IASOA, NOAA ESRL networks Also supports seismic, glaciologic, upper atmosphere research Test bed for innovative technology (TUMBLE WEED, COOL ROBOTS, GEOBricks, CHRONOS, DISC drill, Electric snow vehicles)

5. Summit science summary Key facility in Arctic observatory network – increasing demand for pollution-free sampling environment Unique location on ice sheet provides access to remote, high-elevation Arctic troposphere Only northern hemisphere location for polar ice sheet intercomparisons with Antarctic Growing science use & aging infrastructure drive need for new investments Vision: Model international research facility – site of leading-edge polar & global multidisciplinary science –Long-term measurements –Intensive campaigns –Test bed for new sensors & technology Clean scientific observatory, with sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, minimum pollution

6. Nearly 20 years of science at GEOSummit –1989-93: main focus was GISP2 ice core –Studies of air-snow exchange for ice-core interpretation & studies of the remote arctic troposphere every year since 1989, involving scientists from dozens of institutions –Year-round operations since 2000 & key component of arctic & global atmospheric observation system since 2003 (e.g. GAW, AON, IASOA, NOAA ESRL) –Growing demands for scientific use, with some facilities dating back to GISP2, make investments in new infrastructure a high priority.

7. Ice coring at Summit Peak of the Greenland ice sheet. No significant melting (yet!) GISP2 provided unprecedented high-resolution record of the past 110k yr of Earth’s climate & atmospheric chemistry. Studies of air-snow chemical exchange show both linear & non-linear “transfer functions” Dome protecting GISP2 ice core drill, 1989-93 72ºN, 38ºW 3,200 masl Sampling for trace metals in snow

8. Atmospheric chemistry at Summit Site for many productive atmospheric measurement campaigns & experiments Production of NO x in sunlit snow, discovered at Summit in 1998, helped launch field of snow photochemistry. Degassing of hydrogen peroxide & formaldehyde from snow create highly oxidizing environment near snow surface. NOAA scientists measure detailed profiles of stratospheric ozone Site for baseline measurements of globally important gases, aerosols in troposphere & stratosphere