The Forni Automatic Weather Station has been installed on Forni Glacier on September 26, 2005 at 2669 m asl. This station represents the first Italian permanent above glacial AWS, that supply a big number of information about micro-meteorological conditions on surface of an Italian Alpine glacier. In particular, this station is located in the Glacial Ablation area and permits to measure both the winter accumulation and the thermal conditions and in-coming/out-coming energetic fluxes that rules the losses of glacial masses during the summer period. Geographical coordinates: - Latitude: 46° 23’ 56.0” N - Longitude: 10° 35’ 25.2” E

In 2008 expedition, at South Col was installed the DMA572 termohygrometer, that was replaced during the 2011 expedition with two DMA672 termohygrometers and one DMA033 thermometer. All these sensors are manufactered by LSI-Lastem (Italy). DMA 672 thermohygrometer is an instrument for measuring temperature and relative humidity and suitable for a continuous measurement in severe environments; in presence of deep thermal and hygrometric ranges with high sun radiant heat. An importatnt feature of this set of sensor is that the thermohygrometric sensitive element is easily replaceable, in order to have a simple and rapid ordinary maintenance and avoiding calibration. The Thermohygrometer has supported a considerable improvement, owing to a deep technical and styling development process: a fan ensures a continuos air change around the sensor in order to eliminate temperature fault caused by radiant heat. Technical characteristics for temperature: Range: -30 to 70°C Sensitive element: Pt100 Class B 1/3 DIN Sensitive element replacement: sensor replacement Accuracy (Repeatability+ Hysteresis): ±0,1°C (0°C) Resolution: n.a. Response time (Sens. Element): 10 s Thermal drift: n.a. Long term stability: <1°C year Operating temperature: -50°÷100°C Technical characteristics for relative humidity: Range: 0 to100% Sensitive element: Capacitive Sensitive element replacement: sensor replacement Accuracy (Repeatability+ Hysteresis): 1,5% (5 to 95%, 23°C) Resolution: 0,12% Response time (Sens. element): 10 s Thermal drift: Max ± 1,5% Long term stability: <1 RH% year DMA033 Thermometer is well-suited for environmental outdoor measurements, with natural or forced ventilation antiradiant shield. Technical characteristics: Range : -40 to70°C Sensitive element: Pt100 1/3 DIN-B Accuracy: ±0,1C (0°C) Repeatability: 1/5 accuracy Electric output: Pt100 ? 1/3 DIN Operating temperature: -40°to 95°C Protection (vertical pos.): IP66

In both 2008 and 2011 expeditions a CM6B Kipp&Zonen radiometer was installed at South Col. This sensor is a first class pyranometer as defined by the World Meteorological Organization. It is suitable for the measurement of solar irradiance on a plane surface (W/m2). It incorporates a 64-thermocouple sensor, which is rotationally symmetrical, housed under K5 domes. A white screen prevents the body of the pyranometer from heating up. The pyranometer is supplied with a spirit level and screws for accurate levelling. CM6B technical data - Spectral range 305 to 2800 nm (50%points) - Sensitivity 9 to 15 ?V/Wm-2 - Impedance 70 to 100 Ohm - Response time 1/e 5 s, 99 % 55 s - Non-linearity <1.5 % (<1000 W/m 2 ) - Tilt error <1.5 % at 1000 W/m 2 - Operating temperature -40 to +90 °C - Temperature dependence of sensitivity _2 % (-10 to +40 °C) - Maximum irradiance 2000 W/m2 - Directional error < _20 W/m2 at 1000 W/m2 - Weight 0.85 kg - Cable length 10 m

The second italian permanent station was installed on August 14, 2007, on Dosdè Glacier. This station located at 2850 m asl permits to collect data on above glacial thermal conditions and incoming and outcoming energetic fluxes. This automatic weather station represent the highest Lombardy permanent station on glacier and its data can be comparable to those collected by AWS Forni in order to verify the effects of climate change on glacial size and micro-meteorological parameters. Geographical coordinates: - Latitude: 46° 23’ 33.944” N - Longitude: 10° 13’ 3.359” E

The third Italian permanent automatic weather station has been installed on December 17, 2007 on Gigante Glacier ( Mt. Bianco’s group). Data collected by this station permit to improve knowledge both on local micro-meteorological parameters and on periglacial and glacial conditions. Moreover, this station located at 3430 m asl permits to collect data on above glacial thermal conditions and incoming and outcoming energetic fluxes. Data collected by this station can be compared to the AWSs installed on Forni and Dosdè glaciers. Geographical coordinates: - Latitude: 45° 50' 50" - Longitude: 06° 55' 58"

In 2008 at South Col the CombiSD DNA022 sensor (LSI-Lastem, Italy) was installed. During the 2011 expedition, this sensor was replaced with a prototype (LSI-Lastem) to support with another sensor manufactured by VAISALA: WA15D7B. The WA15 is based on accurate sensors installed on a large crossarm. It is designed for demanding wind measurement applications. Three lightweight, conical cups mounted on the cup wheel, provide excellent linearity over the entire operating range, up to 75 m/s. A wind-rotated chopper disc attached to the shaft of the cup wheel cuts an infrared light beam 14 times per revolution. This generates a pulse output from the phototransistor. The output pulse rate is directly proportional to wind speed (e.g. 246 Hz = 24.6 m/s). However, for the highest accuracy, the characteristic transfer function should be used to compensate for starting inertia.

The Italian Climate Observatory “O. Vittori” (ICO-OV), is a research infrastructure managed by the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (ISAC) of the National Reaserach Council (CNR). It is the only high mountain station for atmospheric research both South of the Alps and the Po basin and it represents a strategic platform to study the chemical-physical characteristics and climatology of the South Europe and North Mediterranean basin. The ICO-OV is part of the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) program by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Station at High Altitude for Research on the Environment (SHARE) project by EV-K2-CNR.

At Changri Nup station a DMA 572 thermohygrometer was installed in 2010. Temperature sensitive element is a thermoresistance Pt100 type while the humidity sensitive element is a capacitive plate. The sensitive elements are protected from incident solar radiation by a double radiation shield. Sensors for temperature and relative humidity measurements with radiation shield for meteorological uses. Sensors are equipped with a microprocessor. For temperature: Range -30.+70°C Sensitive element Pt100 1/3 DIN-B Accuracy ± 0,1°C (0°C) Hysteresis&Repeatability na Resolution 0,025°C Long term stability -0.04% (after 5 years at 200°C) Calibration uncertainty 0,1°C Response time (T63) Wind speed 0,3-0,5 m/s: 80sec Radiation shield efficiency with respect to forced ventilation sensor (wind 0,5m/s, rad.800 W/m2): +0,6°C For relative humidity: Range: Nom.0..100%, Eff.10..98% Sensitive element Capacitive Accuracy 2,5% (11-90%) 0,6°C (20°C, 50%RH) Hysteresis&Repeatability 0,5% Resolution 0,2% Long term stability -2%/year (at 75%RH) n.a. Calibration uncertainty 0,1°C 1,5% na Response time (T63) Wind speed 0,3-0,5 m/s: 80sec Radiation shield efficiency with respect to forced ventilation sensor (wind 0,5m/s, rad.800 W/m2): n.a. General characteristic: Ventilation: Natural Electric output Jumper locally selectable 2 x 0-20 mA, 4-20 mA, 0-5 V, 1-5 V. 60-300 mV Output signals Output n.1: temperature. Output n.2: RH% or dew point (default RH%) Operating temperature -30°+70°C Sampling rate 1 sec. (default) PC programmable 1..300 sec. N°acquisitions for mobile average calculation: N°1 (default), PC programmable 1..20 acquisitions Load resistance (mA output): DMA570 300 Ohm

The CNR1 net radiometer by Kipp & Zonen is for applications requiring research-grade performance. The radiometer measures the energy balance between incoming short-wave and long-wave IR radiation versus surface-reflected short-wave and outgoing long-wave IR radiation. The CNR1 consists of a pyranometer and pyrgeometer pair that faces upward and a complementary pair that faces downward. The pyranometers and pyrgeometers measure short-wave and far infrared radiation, respectively. The CNR1 also includes an RTD to measure the radiometer’s internal temperature and a heater that can be used to prevent condensation. CNR1 Specifications Sensors: Kipp & Zonen’s CM3 ISO-class, thermopile pyranometer, CG3 pyrgeometer, PT100 RTD Spectral Response Pyranometer: 305 to 2800 nm Pyrgeometer: 5000 to 50,000 nm Response Time: 18 seconds Sensitivity Range: 7 to 15 µV W-1 m2 Output Range Pyranometer: 0 to 25 mV Pyrgeometer: ±5 mV Expected Accuracy for Daily Totals: ±10% Directional Error: <25 W m-2 (pyranometer) Heating Resistor: 24 Ohms, 6 W at 12 Vdc CE Compliance: CE compliant under the European Union’s EMC directive

At the Nepal Climate Observatory - Pyramid, aerosol total and back scattering coefficients at three wavelengths (450, 550 and 700 nm) are derived by an integrating nephelometer (model TSI 3563).