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Pictures of the month 2024


Since the nineties, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) operates an automatic measuring system for the continuous monitoring of radioactivity in the alpine air at the research station at Jungfraujoch. In December 2023 a new measuring system, which corresponds to today’s requirements, was installed. Pictures: HFSJG
An instrument of the Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA was flown to the Sphinx-observatory at Jungfraujoch for a measurement campaign. The PALMS-NG instrument is what we call a single particle mass spectrometer. It measures the size and gives the chemical composition of the particles present in the ambient air. At the Sphinx-laboratory, it is coupled with a cloud chamber from ETH Zurich (HINC-Auto) with objective to help understanding how ice forms in the atmosphere. More specifically, what type of particle has a better chance to trigger the ice nucleation in a cloud, and what is the source of those specific particles. As an example, Saharan dust is already known to have a great ability to form ice in the clouds above the Alps, which might then precipitate snow. Fun fact about PALMS-NG: it is a very new instrument that has been built in collaboration with Purdue University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to fly on stratospheric research airplanes for NASA. Its very first flight happened early summer 2021 (PALMS-NG : Particle Analysis by Laser Mass Spectrometry – Next Generation). Pictures: HFSJG
Since 2024, the Republic of Korea is a new member of the International Foundation HFSJG. The President of the Foundation, Prof. Silvio Decurtins, and the Director, Prof. Markus Leuenberger, welcomed the official delegates of the Republic of Korea, Prof. Do-Kyeong Ko, Director of the Advanced Photonics Research Institute (apri), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), and Dr. Woojin Shin, GIST apri, during a small ceremony at the residency of the Korean Ambassador in Bern, Mr. Chang-rok Keum (from left to right: Woojin Shin, Markus Leuenberger, Do-Kyeong Ko, Chang-rok Keum, Walter Inäbnit, honorary senator University of Bern, Silvio Decurtins). Picture: © GIST apri
The beacon transmitter operates 24 hours a day from the Jungfraujoch site in the 70cm amateur radio band on 432.432MHz. The aim is to investigate the propagation characteristics in this band from an altitude location. Feedback is received from all over Europe. More information: https://relais-hb9f.ch/baken/jungfraujoch.html. Pictures: Armin Rösch
At the end of April 2024, there was the first alumni reunion of former HFSJG employees. The group visited the research station at Jungfraujoch, enjoyed the beautiful weather and took a trip down memory lane. Picture: HFSJG
Dr. Marcel Stefko, Chair of Earth Observation, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, successfully defended his PhD thesis ‘Applications of bistatic Ku-band radar in snow-covered environments’. The thesis includes results from measurements at Jungfraujoch, where Marcel Stefko carried out a research project (picture below: the radar installation on the terrace on the 5th floor of the research station with the glacier in the background). A copy of the thesis can now be found in the library of the research station (picture on top: Marcel Stefko with his thesis in the library). Pictures: HFSJG and Marcel Stefko
The formation of long-lived spallation products in lead as a result of exposure to cosmic radiation is the subject of a study initiated by radiochemists Bernd Eichler (PSI) and Heinz Gäggeler (University of Bern & PSI) at the end of the 1990s. For this purpose, eight lead plates were placed at the research station on the Jungfraujoch as well as in the lowlands. The eight plates at the research station have now, almost three decades later, been recovered by the next generation of radiochemists to carry out the first radioanalytical investigations. From left: Robert Eichler (University of Bern & PSI), Georg Tiebel (ETH Zurich & PSI) and Patrick Steinegger (ETH Zurich & PSI) at the collection on the Jungfraujoch on June 19, 2024. Photos: PSI
A basic course in meteo-observation is part of the training of the custodians at Jungfraujoch, as the work of the custodians includes five weather observations per day with reporting to MeteoSwiss.Lukas Bäni, HFSJG, has now also been able to complete a basic course, in order to support the custodians if required. The course took place at MeteoSwiss at the Zurich Airport and was followed by a day of practical observation on the Säntis.Photo bottom left: Zurich Airport, where MeteoSwiss is located in the Operation Center. Photo top left: practical weather observation on the Säntis.Photo right: Lukas Bäni (HFSJG), Eliane Thürig (MeteoSwiss eye observation instructor), Michael Knill (eye observer on the Säntis).
A Critical Power Module (CPM) with a flywheel from Piller was installed at Jungfraujoch by Bimex Energy AG in Uetendorf. The CPM with the POWERBRIDGE kinetic energy storage system guarantees a smooth transition to standby generator operation. The CPM300 is housed in two robust steel cabinets. One cabinet contains the flywheel mass and the heat exchanger system, the other the control and power electronics. The CPM is installed in a specially extended cavern near the old Sphinx-elevator and enables that in the event of a power failure, the power supply of the laboratories and instruments in the Sphinx is guaranteed until the emergency generators are switched on.Left: Markus Leuenberger, Director HFSJG - thanks to his efforts, the purchase and installation of the CPM was realised. Top right: Installation by the company Bimex Energy AG. Bottom right: excavated cavern. Photos: Bimex Energy AG and HFSJG
The effect of acute hypoxia during altitude exposure on the performance of some affected occupational groups (pilots, astronauts, members of the military) has been extensively studied in recent decades. This has led to regulations, special training and supplemental oxygen at certain altitudes for these groups. However, one group that has been studied very little to date is rescuers. At the HFSJG, a research group from Inselspital Bern attempted to shed some light on this issue.Drs Sven Straumann and Jürgen Knapp, together with medical students Lea Wahl and Anna Zimmermann, travelled to the Jungfraujoch with simulation and video equipment to test 20 experienced emergency physicians in a total of 60 simulated emergency scenarios over eight days. The video recordings will be compared with recordings of simulation scenarios in Bern using standardised scores by three independent experts. The aim is to determine whether emergency physicians can provide equally good medical treatment at altitude, and whether symptoms of acute altitude sickness or supplemental oxygen influence the quality of the treatment they provide.The study is currently still collecting data--no statements can yet be made about its endpoints. A publication is expected towards the end of 2025. Pictures: © Sven Straumann, Inselspital
The atmospheric monitoring program conducted by University of Liège at Jungfraujoch started in the 1950s. Grating instruments and then Fourier Transform spectrometers were successfully in use to collect observations useful to accurately document the long-term evolution of the composition and dynamics of the Earth
Audits are a central element of quality assurance in the European measurement network ACTRIS (https://www.actris.eu). Scientists from Forschungszentrum Jülich, together with their colleagues from EMPA, examined the VOC and NOx data and the respective measurement devices on the Jungfraujoch. The calibration standards that had been brought along were measured on site together with both the devices from Jülich and Jungfraujoch in order to harmonise the network. Pictures: HFSJG

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