Ernst Krenkel Observatory
Ernst Krenkel Observatory (Russian: Обсерватория имени Эрнста Кренкеля), also known as Kheysa, is a former Soviet rocket launching site and current meteorological station located on Heiss Island, Franz Josef Land.[1][2] It is named after a famous Arctic explorer Ernst Krenkel, a member of the crew of the North Pole-1 drift ice station and other notable Soviet polar expeditions.[2] It is the northernmost meteorological station in Russia.[3]
History
The observatory was initially located in Tikhaya Bay on Hooker Island, but it was moved and re-established on Heiss Island in 1957 to take more representative measurements. The new observatory was built by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, and it was originally named Druzhnaya (Russian: Дружная).[4] That year, it began launching MR-12 rockets, and the location was also used to take geomagnetic measurements in the high Arctic.[2] In 1958, atmospheric and ozone observations began as well.[4]
About 40 buildings were built on the site, with the observatory being 22 metres (72 ft) above sea level.[2][3] In 1972, the observatory was renamed after Krenkel.[4]
Launches primarily ceased after 1990, though one was performed in 2007 and another two in 2008.[1] The station was closed in 2001 due to a fire,[4] and in 2004, a new meteorological station was built. In 2018, renovations on the abandoned buildings began so that the Russian Arctic National Park service could station people there.[2] Another research station moved into the existing buildings around 2021.[5] In 2024, a new satellite communication system was installed at the site.[6]
Climate
| Climate data for Ernst Krenkel Observatory, Heiss Island | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 1.9 (35.4) | 0.1 (32.2) | 1.6 (34.9) | 0.7 (33.3) | 3.3 (37.9) | 8.0 (46.4) | 10.3 (50.5) | 10.2 (50.4) | 5.6 (42.1) | 3.8 (38.8) | 1.6 (34.9) | 1.7 (35.1) | 10.3 (50.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −16.7 (1.9) | −16.8 (1.8) | −17.2 (1.0) | −13.6 (7.5) | −6.1 (21.0) | 0.2 (32.4) | 2.0 (35.6) | 1.6 (34.9) | −0.4 (31.3) | −6.2 (20.8) | −10.7 (12.7) | −15.0 (5.0) | −8.2 (17.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −20.1 (−4.2) | −20.2 (−4.4) | −20.6 (−5.1) | −16.5 (2.3) | −8.1 (17.4) | −1.2 (29.8) | 0.7 (33.3) | 0.4 (32.7) | −1.7 (28.9) | −8.0 (17.6) | −13.6 (7.5) | −18.2 (−0.8) | −10.6 (12.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −23.3 (−9.9) | −23.6 (−10.5) | −23.8 (−10.8) | −19.2 (−2.6) | −10.1 (13.8) | −2.5 (27.5) | −0.2 (31.6) | −0.6 (30.9) | −3.0 (26.6) | −10.0 (14.0) | −16.4 (2.5) | −21.4 (−6.5) | −12.8 (8.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −42.1 (−43.8) | −44.4 (−47.9) | −43.5 (−46.3) | −39.6 (−39.3) | −27.7 (−17.9) | −12.3 (9.9) | −3.9 (25.0) | −8.8 (16.2) | −23.2 (−9.8) | −32.3 (−26.1) | −39.5 (−39.1) | −41.5 (−42.7) | −44.4 (−47.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 24.9 (0.98) | 26.1 (1.03) | 21.6 (0.85) | 17.6 (0.69) | 12.4 (0.49) | 11.7 (0.46) | 16.7 (0.66) | 21.6 (0.85) | 27.5 (1.08) | 17.9 (0.70) | 20.0 (0.79) | 27.8 (1.09) | 245.8 (9.67) |
| Average rainy days | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 0.1 | 0 | 36 |
| Average snowy days | 21 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 23 | 18 | 11 | 14 | 22 | 25 | 21 | 20 | 230 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 82 | 82 | 80 | 81 | 85 | 88 | 91 | 92 | 90 | 86 | 84 | 83 | 85 |
| Source: pogodaiklimat.ru[7] | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ a b "Kheysa". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Staalesen, Atle (5 September 2018). "Here was previously a Soviet rocket launch site, now national park rangers move in". The Barents Observer. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ a b Fedotov, Anatoliy; Kaniber, Vladimir; Khrapov, Pavel (30 August 2021). "Analysis and prediction of changes in the temperature of the pure freshwater ice column in the Antarctic and the Arctic". International Journal of Open Information Technologies. 9 (9): 47–65. ISSN 2307-8162.
- ^ a b c d "Справочная информация по о.Хейса. ( Земля Франца-Иосифа)" [Reference information about Heiss Island. (Franz Josef Land).]. www.sevmeteo.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Staalesen, Atle (1 December 2020). "More research, tourist attractions and staff for world's northernmost national park". The Barents Observer. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "Самая северная метеостанция России обеспечена всем необходимым на год" [Russia's northernmost weather station is supplied with everything it needs for the year]. www.sevmeteo.ru (in Russian). 15 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "Климат Острова Хейса - Погода и климат" [Heiss Island Climate - Weather and Climate]. www.pogodaiklimat.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 28 June 2025.