Location
27 November 2015
The CIAO Observatory is situated at the former farmland at Kárhóll near the municipality of Laugar.
For decades, Iceland has been a hub for aurora research, with collaborative efforts involving research bases from France, Britain, and Japan. Professor Gunnlaugur Björnsson, a research scientist from the Science Institute of the University of Iceland, shed light on the observatory and its purpose during an interview with the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, RÚV.
"The observatory's primary objective is to deepen our understanding of the intricate interplay between the sun, the Earth's magnetic field, and the magnetic field's reaction to solar winds. Iceland, being situated beneath the aurora belt, provides an ideal location for conducting this research."
Björnsson also shared insights into the Arctic Observatory's comprehensive infrastructure, stating, "Initially, we will install All-sky Imagers, a spectograph, and a magnetometer. Looking ahead, we envision the possibility of incorporating additional research tools."
Moreover, he emphasized the observatory's significance for the University of Iceland, noting, "This collaboration is of immense importance to us, as it grants us access to invaluable data. The cost of acquiring such sophisticated equipment is prohibitively high, making this cooperative venture highly welcomed.
About
27 November 2015
The land of Kárhóll is owned by a non-profit organization named Arctic Observatory ses which will provide necessary land, facilities, and operational services for the Arctic Observatory. Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) will lease the land for the operations of the observatory.
The project at Kárhóll will positively impact its local environment, both culturally and economically. The centre is planned to be open to the general public and build a bridge between scientific research and daily life by operating a visitor´s centre dedicated to the aurora borealis.
The visitors centre will be a very welcome addition to the existing flora of service and recreation possibilities in the vicinity. A local non-profit organization, Arctic Observatory, has been established to provide facilities and logistics for the CIAO.
See also: Introduction about the project from senior scientist Hongqiao Hu from PRIC about the observatory. The introduction is from the summer of 2012 and was introduced on various occasions.
