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 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

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 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 Nepal Climate Observatory - Pyramid (NCO-P, 27.95 N, 86.82 E; 5079 m a.s.l.) is located in the southern Himalayan region at the confluence of the secondary valley of Lobuche (oriented NNW-SSE) and the main Khumbu Valley. The station was placed not far from the Pyramid International Laboratory/Observatory and in proximity of the Mt. Everest base camp. All the instrumentation is housed in a wood and aluminium shelter consisting of two rooms, one for the instruments and a smaller one where batteries for the power supply are stored. The power needed to carry out the experimental activity (~ 3 kW) is provided by 96 photovoltaic panels with 120 electric storage cells. Through the aluminium roof, four sampling lines allow the sampling of gases and aerosol particles. In July 2010 the NCO-P was upgraded to GAW Global Station.

At the Nepal Climate Observatory - Pyramid a UV-absorption analyser (Thermo TEI 49C UV analyzer) is used for measurement of surface ozone adopting the sampling procedures suggested within the GAW-WMO (GAW, 1992).

Measurements of aerosol-size distributions at the NCO-P (or Nepal Climate Observatory at Pyramid) site were continuously performed by using the scanning mobility particles sizer (SMPS) technique. The dataset is available at http://www.rrcap.unep.org/abc/data/abc/index.html.

In the Khumbu Valley, located in the central part of the Himalayan range and including the area of Sagarmatha National Park, a network of 7 Automatic Weather Station (AWSs) has been installed since 1994. These weather stations are located at different altitudes: Lukla (2,660 m a.s.l), Namche (3,570 m a.s.l), Periche (4,260 m a.s.l), Lobuche (5,050 m a.s.l) near the Pyramid Laboratory - Observatory, Kala Patthar (5,600 m a.s.l), Changri Nup Glacier (5,700 m a.s.l) and Mt. Everest - South Col (8.000 m a.s.l). The network mainly takes measurements of 7 standards parameters: air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, global radiation and total precipitation. After a test period during summer 2008, the South Col AWS station has been re-installed on May 2011. The South Col station is equipped with technologically-advanced sensors for measuring temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure and solar radiation. Support, energy and data transmission systems are optimized for functioning in adverse weather conditions. South Col AWS observations can provide useful information for investigating: (i) the variability of the subtropical jet stream analysis, (ii) the summer monsoon onset and decay, (iii) the stratospheric intrusion events, (iv) the occurrence of severe weather conditions on Mt. Everest. Geographical coordinates: - Latitude: 27° 58' N - Longitude: 86° 56' E