Polar & High Altitude

Instrumentation for High Altitude and High Latitude Sites

Case Study » Mt. Sajama: Climate Research

Project Summary

Application Type:
High altitude weather stations that support research on climate change and ice cores.

Location:
West central Bolivia

Products Used:
CR10X

Contributors:
Dr. Douglas Hardy, Geosciences Dept., University of Massachusetts

Contracting Agencies:
University of Massachusetts, The Ohio State University, NOAA

Measured Parameters:
Climate Research

Climatologists from the University of Massachusetts are collaborating with scientists from Ohio State University to study ice cores from two mountain peaks in Bolivia with the goal of better understanding global-scale climate changes. In support of the research, weather stations are operating near the drill site on Sajama (21,464 ft.), the highest peak in Bolivia, and on Nevado Illimani (20,555 ft.). Both stations measure snow accumulation and ablation hourly, along with snow temperature and a variety of meteorological variables.