During the 2003/04 season an automatic research station was set up in a joint effort by Sweden and Finland. The idea arose already in 2002 when the increasing number of flights demanded that accurate weather information be obtainable even though the stations were not manned. Different science projects also requested accurate year-round weather data, and since neither Wasa nor Aboa had a weather station it was suggested that Sweden and Finland together should install and share a new weather station. It was decided that FMI, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, which has an extensive knowledge of building and maintaining weather stations in extreme and harsh environments, should design and build it.

At the same time there was an increasing scientific demand in both countries for performing year round measurements at the stations, preferably remotely controlled. Both nations have an interest in promoting this type of research at their stations and agreed on adding research projects to the weather station, using the same data collection system and link for communication.

The station installed is based on a Vaisala Milos 500 data collection system, with some special adjustments. Communication is via the Iridium system, using a Motorola 9522 L-band transceiver. The station instrumentation fulfils WMO requirements. It was designed by Jani Gustafsson at FMI and installed in November 2003 by Petri Heinonen, FINNARP and Sven Lidström, SWEDARP. Two scientific projects are also currently attached to the weather station: aerosol measurements by Aki Virkkula at FMI and permafrost measurements by Jan Boelhouwers at Uppsala University.

The meteorological parameters measured are:

• Wind speed and direction (Thies CLIMA Ultrasonic Anemometer 2D).
• Humidity (HMP45D Vaisala).
• Temperature (Air & ground PT-100 Pentronic) .
• Pressure (PTB220 Vaisala).
• Global radiation (CM11 Kipp & Zonen).
• UVB-radiation (Model 501A Solar Light CO.inc).

The data are currently downloaded every 3 hours. The meteorological data are distributed to WMO. To meet the power demands of the monitoring station FINNARP upgraded Aboas existing battery capacity and installed several windmilis (Windside, WS-0.3A) to ensure power during the winter. This work will continue during the 2004/05 season.

Our intention was to prove that remotely controlled year-round projects were possible. This has been proven by the installation and our hope is that this will encourage Swedish and Finnish scientists to see our stations as year-round stations even though they are not manned all the time. We are preparing for an increase in year-round projects in the next couple of years. These preparations involve investigating, testing and evaluating new alternative sources of energy and communication systems.