Ernst Krenkel Observatory

{{Short description|Former Soviet rocket launch site on Heiss Island, Franz Josef Land}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} thumb|right|250px|Location of Heiss Island in the Franz Josef Archipelago '''Ernst Krenkel Observatory''' ({{langx|ru|Обсерватория имени Эрнста Кренкеля}}), also known as '''Kheysa''', is a research station, a former Soviet rocket launching site and current meteorological station located on Heiss Island, Franz Josef Land.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |author= |title=Kheysa |url=http://www.astronautix.com/k/kheysa.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227211822/http://astronautix.com/k/kheysa.html |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |access-date=13 October 2021 |website=Encyclopedia Astronautica}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> It is named after a famous Arctic explorer Ernst Krenkel, a member of the crew of the North Pole-1 drift ice station and other notable Soviet polar expeditions.<ref name=":1" /> It is the northernmost meteorological station in Russia.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Fedotov |first=Anatoliy |last2=Kaniber |first2=Vladimir |last3=Khrapov |first3=Pavel |date=2021-08-30 |title=Analysis and prediction of changes in the temperature of the pure freshwater ice column in the Antarctic and the Arctic |url=http://injoit.org/index.php/j1/article/view/1142 |journal=International Journal of Open Information Technologies |language=en |volume=9 |issue=9 |pages=47–65 |issn=2307-8162}}</ref>

== History == thumb|Krenkel Observatory in September 2007 The observatory was initially located in Tikhaya Bay on Hooker Island, but it was moved and re-established on Heiss Island in 1957 to take more representative measurements. The new observatory was built by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, and it was originally named '''Druzhnaya''' ({{Langx|ru|Дружная}}).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Справочная информация по о.Хейса. ( Земля Франца-Иосифа). |trans-title=Reference information about Heiss Island. (Franz Josef Land). |url=http://www.sevmeteo.ru/articles/18/69.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410210114/http://www.sevmeteo.ru/articles/18/69.shtml |archive-date=2010-04-10 |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=www.sevmeteo.ru |language=ru}}</ref> That year, it began launching MR-12 rockets, and the location was also used to take geomagnetic measurements in the high Arctic.<ref name=":1" /> In 1958, atmospheric and ozone observations began as well.<ref name=":3" />

About 40 buildings were built on the site, with the observatory being {{Convert|22|m|ft}} above sea level.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Staalesen |first=Atle |date=2018-09-05 |title=Here was previously a Soviet rocket launch site, now national park rangers move in |url=https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/arctic/here-was-previously-a-soviet-rocket-launch-site-now-national-park-rangers-move-in/116588 |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=The Barents Observer |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> In 1972, the observatory was renamed after Krenkel.<ref name=":3" />

Launches primarily ceased after 1990, though one was performed in 2007 and another two in 2008.<ref name=":0" /> The station was closed in 2001 due to a fire,<ref name=":3" /> and in 2004, a new meteorological station was built. In 2018, renovations on the abandoned buildings began so that the Russian Arctic National Park service could station people there.<ref name=":1" /> Another research station moved into the existing buildings around 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staalesen |first=Atle |date=2020-12-01 |title=More research, tourist attractions and staff for world's northernmost national park |url=https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/arctic/more-research-tourist-attractions-and-staff-for-worlds-northernmost-national-park/123944 |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=The Barents Observer |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2024, a new satellite communication system was installed at the site.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-15 |title=Самая северная метеостанция России обеспечена всем необходимым на год |trans-title=Russia's northernmost weather station is supplied with everything it needs for the year |url=https://www.sevmeteo.ru/press/news/15735/ |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=www.sevmeteo.ru |language=ru}}</ref>

== Climate == {{Weather box |location=Ernst Krenkel Observatory, Heiss Island |metric first=yes |single line=yes |Jan record high C = 1.9 |Feb record high C = 0.1 |Mar record high C = 1.6 |Apr record high C = 0.7 |May record high C = 3.3 |Jun record high C = 8.0 |Jul record high C = 10.3 |Aug record high C = 10.2 |Sep record high C = 5.6 |Oct record high C = 3.8 |Nov record high C = 1.6 |Dec record high C = 1.7 |year record high C = 10.3 |Jan high C = -16.7 |Feb high C = -16.8 |Mar high C = -17.2 |Apr high C = -13.6 |May high C = -6.1 |Jun high C = 0.2 |Jul high C = 2.0 |Aug high C = 1.6 |Sep high C = -0.4 |Oct high C = -6.2 |Nov high C = -10.7 |Dec high C = -15.0 |year high C = |Jan mean C = -20.1 |Feb mean C = -20.2 |Mar mean C = -20.6 |Apr mean C = -16.5 |May mean C = -8.1 |Jun mean C = -1.2 |Jul mean C = 0.7 |Aug mean C = 0.4 |Sep mean C = -1.7 |Oct mean C = -8.0 |Nov mean C = -13.6 |Dec mean C = -18.2 |year mean C = |Jan low C = -23.3 |Feb low C = -23.6 |Mar low C = -23.8 |Apr low C = -19.2 |May low C = -10.1 |Jun low C = -2.5 |Jul low C = -0.2 |Aug low C = -0.6 |Sep low C = -3.0 |Oct low C = -10.0 |Nov low C = -16.4 |Dec low C = -21.4 |year low C = |Jan record low C = -42.1 |Feb record low C = -44.4 |Mar record low C = -43.5 |Apr record low C = -39.6 |May record low C = -27.7 |Jun record low C = -12.3 |Jul record low C = -3.9 |Aug record low C = -8.8 |Sep record low C = -23.2 |Oct record low C = -32.3 |Nov record low C = -39.5 |Dec record low C = -41.5 |year record low C = -44.4 |Jan precipitation mm = 24.9 |Feb precipitation mm = 26.1 |Mar precipitation mm = 21.6 |Apr precipitation mm = 17.6 |May precipitation mm = 12.4 |Jun precipitation mm = 11.7 |Jul precipitation mm = 16.7 |Aug precipitation mm = 21.6 |Sep precipitation mm = 27.5 |Oct precipitation mm = 17.9 |Nov precipitation mm = 20.0 |Dec precipitation mm = 27.8 |year precipitation mm = | Jan rain days = 0 | Feb rain days = 0 | Mar rain days = 0.1 | Apr rain days = 0.1 | May rain days = 0.4 | Jun rain days = 3 | Jul rain days = 12 | Aug rain days = 12 | Sep rain days = 7 | Oct rain days = 1 | Nov rain days = 0.1 | Dec rain days = 0 |year rain days = 36 |Jan snow days = 21 |Feb snow days = 20 |Mar snow days = 19 |Apr snow days = 16 |May snow days = 23 |Jun snow days = 18 |Jul snow days = 11 |Aug snow days = 14 |Sep snow days = 22 |Oct snow days = 25 |Nov snow days = 21 |Dec snow days = 20 |year snow days = 230 |Jan humidity = 82 |Feb humidity = 82 |Mar humidity = 80 |Apr humidity = 81 |May humidity = 85 |Jun humidity = 88 |Jul humidity = 91 |Aug humidity = 92 |Sep humidity = 90 |Oct humidity = 86 |Nov humidity = 84 |Dec humidity = 83 |year humidity = 85 |source 1 = pogodaiklimat.ru<ref>{{Cite web |title=Климат Острова Хейса - Погода и климат |trans-title=Heiss Island Climate - Weather and Climate |url=https://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/20046.htm |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=www.pogodaiklimat.ru |language=ru}}</ref> }}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Rocket launch sites in Russia Category:Franz Josef Land Category:Buildings and structures in Arkhangelsk Oblast Category:Soviet and Russian space program locations Category:Research stations in the Arctic