Understanding climate
for the benefit of society

About 200 kilometers north of the Arctic circle, to the north of Finland, is Pallas Sammaltunturi, one of the ICOS measuring stations. (Foto: Konsta Punkka/ICOS)

This is where greenhouse gases are measured!

New ICOS exhibition shows the wild nature providing our climate data.

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Greenhouse gas measurements should preferrably be done without much human interference. Considering this, it's not strange that some of these measuring stations are set to the most remote of locations, surrounded only by untouched nature.

The past year the Finnish nature photographer Konsta Punkka, otherwise known as the Squirrel Whisperer, has photographed a dozen climate gas measuring stations, on a mission from ICOS, the European greenhouse gas observation infrastructure.

Bilete frå opninga av #ICOScapes i Praha. (Foto: Andreas Hadsel Opsvik)
Interested scientists admire each others measuring stations at the Prague opening. (Foto: Andreas Hadsel Opsvik/ICOS Norway)

The stunning images were unveiled on September 11th, at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, the host of the third ICOS Science Conference this week.

"The project was not always easy. It involved the very busy time schedule of the photographer. And the even busier time tables of the scientists and the principal investigators of these projects!" said ICOS Head of Communications, Katri Ahlgren at the opening.

"It really helped me to understand the scientists and the scientific area," said photographer Punkka, stating that he was happy to have a chance to share knowledge on climate change.

"It felt really special to be the one of the only humans in the area!"

Several of the images are taken in quite harsh conditions, as shown in this behind-the-scenes clip:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ICOS (@icosri) on

#ICOScapes does not show all 134 ICOS measuring stations, but presents one from each of the 12 member countries. Norway is represented through the Zeppelin observatory at New Ålesund, Svalbard.

The exhibition is to be shown in Prague, before travelling through all ICOS member countries until September 2019. Follow #ICOScapes everywhere:

Instagram: @icosri og hashtaggen #ICOScapes
YouTube: På ICOS sin YouTube channel
Twitter @ICOS_RI med hashtaggen #ICOScapes