From 2004 to June 2013 the staion was equipped with the LSI-Lastem DMA570 termohygrometer. Since 2013 the sensor was replaced with the new one: Vaisala HMP155 Humidity and Temperature Probe. Feature/Benefits: ▪ Vaisala HUMICAP®180R sensor superior long-term stability ▪ Optional warmed humidity probe and chemical purge ▪ Plug-and-play ▪ USB connection for service use ▪ Fits with DTR13 and DTR503 radiation shields and also for a Stevenson screen ▪ Weather-proof housing IP66 ▪ Optional, fast temperature probe ▪ Different output possibilities: voltage, RS-485, resistive Pt100 ▪ Applications: meteorology, aviation and road weather, instrumentation Technical characteristics: Relative humidity Measurement range 0 ... 100 %RH Accuracy (incl. non-linearity, hysteresis and repeatability) at +15 ... +25 °C (+59 ... +77 °F) ±1 %RH (0 ... 90 %RH); ±1.7 %RH (90 ... 100 %RH); -20 ... +40 °C (-4 ... 104 °F) ±(1.0 + 0.008 x reading) %RH; -40 ... -20 °C (-40 ... -4 °F) ±(1.2 + 0.012 x reading) %RH; +40 ... +60 °C (+104 ... +140 °F) ±(1.2 + 0.012 x reading) %RH; -60 ... -40 °C (-76 ... -40 °F) ±(1.4 + 0.032 x reading) %RH Factory calibration uncertainty (+20 °C /+68 °F); ±0.6 %RH (0 ... 40 %RH)*; ±1.0 %RH (40 ... 97 %RH)* * Defined as ±2 standard deviation limits. Small variations possible, see also calibration certificate. Recommended humidity sensor HUMICAP®180R(C) Response time at +20 °C in still air with a sintered PTFE filter 63 % 20 s/ 90 % 60 s Temperature Measurement range -80 ... +60 °C (-112 ... +140 °F) Accuracy with voltage output at -80 ... +20 °C ±(0.226 - 0.0028 x temperature) °C; +20 ... +60 °C ±(0.055 + 0.0057 x temperature) °C passive (resistive) output according to IEC 751 1/3 Class B ±(0.1 + 0.00167 x |temperature|)°C RS485 output -80 ... +20 °C ±(0.176 - 0.0028 x temperature) °C +20 ... +60 °C ±(0.07 + 0.0025 x temperature) °C Accuracy over temperature range (opposite) Temperature sensor Pt100 RTD Class F0.1 IEC 60751 Response time with additional temperature probe in 3 m/s air flow 63 % <20 s/ 90 % <35 s

The Baltoro Glacier, 62 km long, is one of the longest glaciers outside of the Polar Regions. It is located in Baltistan, in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, and runs through part of the Karakoram mountain range. In the middle of the Baltoro glacier there is the campsite of Urdukas located on the trek way to Concordia. This automatic weather station was installed, in June 17, 2004 on the Baltoro Glacier, more precisely on a moraine ridge close to the left glacier margin at 3926 m asl. Geographical coordinates: Latitude: 35° 43' 41" N Longitude: 76° 17' 10" E Elevation: 3926 m a.s.l.

The sensor’s principle of measurement deals with the transit-time measurement of an ultrasonic pulse. The sensor transmits several energy-charged pulses to the snow cover and subsequently receives its reflected signals. Based upon the required transit time of the ultrasonic signals, the USH-8 sensor calculates the current snow depth. The processing time of the ultrasonic pulses here is enormously influenced by the air temperature. For this reason, the snow depth sensor also possesses integrated temperature compensation. This takes into account the influence of the air temperature on the processing time of the ultrasonic signals, in the calculation of the snow depth. The calculation takes place in the sensor, so that the output signal provides the already converted snow depth. USH-8 Specifications: Snow Depth Measurement Range of measurement: 0 to 8 m Minimum distance to the maximum expected snow depth: 1 m Accuracy: 0,1 % (FS) Resolution 1 mm Principle of measurement: Ultrasonic (Frequency 50 kHz; Angle of reflected beam 12°) Integrated Compensation of the Air Temperature Temperature sensor: Integrated air-temperature sensor in self-venting radiation shield Range of measurement: -35 to 60 °C Resolution: 0,1 °C Non-linearity: ? 0,15 % Interfaces Analogue: Snow depth measurement 0/4 - 20 mA signal (configurable) Resolution: 12 Bit Max. load: 300 ? Digital: Snow depth measurement; air temperature; quality flag RS 232; serial interface Protocol: Various ASCII formats

Askole is the last village on the route to the Baltoro Glacier and K2. Its average elevation is 3000 m a.s.l., the village is on the right side of the valley and just north of the main river, on a moraine highland with a low inclination toward the river, where local people carry out little agriculture. The station is on the lower, southern part of the moraine platform, near the edge above the river, and it has open visibility toward East (valley upward), West (valley downward), South (in front of opposite side of the valley) and North (leading to the slopes of the mountain surrounding the village). The installation is located about 200 meters south from the Lorenzo Mazzoleni Dispensary in the middle of the cultivated area, protected by a resistant fencing. Geographical coordinates: Latitude: 35° 40' 50" N Longitude: 75° 48' 55" E Elevation: 3000 m a.s.l.

The Concordia AWS was installed in 2011 at Concordia (4700 m a.s.l.), in one of most impressive glacier basin in the world: the Baltoro. The glaciers flowing from K2, Broad Peak, and Gasherbrum I and II plus many others are joining in Concordia and flowing out to the Baltoro glacier for 60 km in total. Geografical coordinates: Latitude: 35°44'38.98"N Longitude: 76°30'49.71"E Elevation: 4700 m a.s.l.

The Rwenzori Mountains (called also “Mountains of the Moon”), with heights of up to 5,109 m asl., are located in the central Africa, on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the Ugandan National Park an UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the Rwenzori Range some of the main peaks are covered with permanent snow and glacier, while the lower slopes are covered with dense forest. Besides there are several massifs such as Point Margherita, the third highest African summit after, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya. The first AWS (Automatic Weather Station) RW was installed, in Uganda, in the western part of the Stanley Plateau, on July 18, 2006. This station worked in continuous from 2006 to 2009. In 2009 the station interruppted its work due to difficult environmental conditions, and in 2013 this station was replaced with a new one. Geographical coordinates: - Latitude: 0° 22' 34.55" N - Longitude: 29° 52' 43.24" E - Elevation: 4.750 m a.s.l.

The Vaisala HUMICAP® Humidity and Temperature Probe HMP155 provides reliable humidity and temperature measurement. It is designed especially for demanding outdoor applications. Features/Benefits ▪ Vaisala HUMICAP®180R sensor - superior long-term stability ▪ Optional warmed humidity probe and chemical purge ▪ Plug-and-play ▪ USB connection for service use ▪ Fits with DTR13 and DTR503 radiation shields and also for a Stevenson screen ▪ Weather-proof housing IP66 ▪ Optional, fast temperature probe ▪ Different output possibilities: voltage, RS-485, resistive Pt100 ▪ Applications: meteorology, aviation and road weather, instrumentation

In the framework of SHARE project, in June 2012 the Portella Climate Observatory (OCP) has been installed at 2.401 m a.s.l on Mt. Portella in the Gran Sasso chain in collaboration with University of L’Aquila – CETMPS. OCP is the highest mountain station of the Apennines, near the Calderone glacier (the southernmost of Europe). It is a strategic site to observe the chemical, physical and climatological changes of the atmosphere in the Mediterranean basin. Geografical coordinates: Latitude: 42°26'52.96" N Longitude: 13°33'02.41" E Elevation: 2.401 m a.s.l.

The USH-8 Ultrasonic Snow Depth Sensor by SOMMER is ideal for the reliable measurement of snow-depth in extreme conditions. The sensor’s principle of measurement deals with the transit-time measurement of an ultrasonic pulse. The sensor transmits several energy-charged pulses to the snow cover and subsequently receives its reflected signals. Based upon the required transit time of the ultrasonic signals, the USH-8 sensor calculates the current snow depth. The processing time of the ultrasonic pulses here is enormously influenced by the air temperature. For this reason, the snow depth sensor also possesses integrated temperature compensation. This takes into account the influence of the air temperature on the processing time of the ultrasonic signals, in the calculation of the snow depth. The calculation takes place in the sensor, so that the output signal provides the already converted snow depth. USH-8 Specifications: Snow Depth Measurement Range of measurement: 0 to 8 m Minimum distance to the maximum expected snow depth: 1 m Accuracy: 0,1 % (FS) Resolution 1 mm Principle of measurement: Ultrasonic (Frequency 50 kHz; Angle of reflected beam 12°) Integrated Compensation of the Air Temperature Temperature sensor: Integrated air-temperature sensor in self-venting radiation shield Range of measurement: -35 to 60 °C Resolution: 0,1 °C Non-linearity: ? 0,15 % Interfaces Analogue: Snow depth measurement 0/4 - 20 mA signal (configurable) Resolution: 12 Bit Max. load: 300 ? Digital: Snow depth measurement; air temperature; quality flag RS 232; serial interface Protocol: Various ASCII formats