The ice core extraction operation on the Ortler is coming to an end in the next few hours, or has perhaps already ended. We currently do not have precise news. Meanwhile (and that we do know) the meteorological conditions have, as forecast, become worse and there have also been snow falls, as can be observed through the webcam located on the Stelvio pass.

What is often not taken into account in this kind of project is the fact that, in parallel to the main work, the ice core extraction on the glacier, other scientific and educational activities are being carried out, which allow the logistical and organisational effort to be rationalised. Some of these activities can be found in the “research” section. Another example (one of the many) is the installation of a meteorological station on the glacier (by Carturan and Dalla Fontana, two researchers from Padua University – TeSAF department). This will allow automatic measurement of meteorological parameters. Pictures can be viewed on today’s picture gallery.

It’s the highest meteorological station in the Eastern Alps and one of the highest in the Alps. The station’s sensors measure the air temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, visible  and infrared- radiation, the depth of the snow and the temperature of the snow layer at several points. The station will collect data over the next two years, and will work, as can be easily be imagined, under extreme conditions, such as lightning, strong winds and ice encrustations.

In addition we would like to inform you that two EURAC directors visited the site in recent days: the President, Dr. Werner Stuflesser, and the Director of the Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine. There will be also images of that in the picture gallery.

We would also like to note that a video can be viewed on the EURAC Facebook page which was shown on the news of the Austrian national TVchannel ORF.

We’ll keep you updated. We will let you know as soon as there is any news regarding the end of the operations…