This is a polar meteorological observatory in Valkarkay. Quite recently its interiors were filmed for a Russian movie. People, occupied here, do an important job, because the Far Eastern weather is not about decisions whether one need to take an unmbrella or not. Sometimes the data of the observatory may save someone’s life in the severe region.
Let’s check out how they work and forecast weather at Valkarkay.
“Arctic is boundless, heat reserve is limited, do close the doors tightly”. This notification has been hanging here for more than four years and nobody remembers what wit left it.
Boiler-house of the observatory. The premise is hetead with wood brought from afar, as no trees grow in Chukotka.
The main room of the station for metrological measurements and observations. It’s never empty, someone always has to be here. One shift lasts six hours, three meteorologists replace each other. They also have a boss, a mechanic and a cook.
Boris, the head of the station, is holding a special spatula that serves for measuring outside.
Temperature charts are made daily and neatly put in their place.
Boris is telling about polar lights that happened just recently.
A set of thermometers.
Yes, the furniture is old, but the equipment is quite modern.
The devices collect and transmit many indicatiors – range of visibility, cloud cover, soil temperature etc. Wrench serves as a pointer – very touching…
“How high are clouds today?”
Two years with no Internet and communication is a tough deal. The guys entertain themselves by reading books.
Actually, satellite Internet is available at the station but it’s very expensive and they can’t use it for individual purposes.
Most of the books are from the Soviet time.
Antoine de Saint-Exupér.
Measuring is done not only with sensors and devices in the building of the station, but also with those located outside. This is a field with meteorological devices, the readings are recorded hourly.
This device measures humidity according to the temperature difference of dry and wet thermometers. At -35C mercury freezes and measurements are done with alcohol thermometers.
And this is a heliograph – the device for automatic registration of sunshine duration throughout the day. Sun rays are focused in the glass sphere and burn down the ribbon with a time scheme.
The team of the station Valkarkay. Dogs protect people from bears.
The data of the metereological station are transmitted via satellite to the HydroMetCenter of Chukotka.
They have a radiostation to contact Valkarkay.
The general layout of the premise with equipment.
There is a window in the room that helps to determine the range of visibility outside.
Everything of genius is simple: if they see a lighthouse, the visibility is 5 km, if they see only the searchlight tower – 650 m.
Different notes required for the case of storm.
As workers spend much time here, they try to make the place cosy.
Cute, isn’t it?
Logbook.
Satellite maps.
The result of the work of observatories and meteorological stations – hand drawn maps with precise meteorological data. It’s not only from Valkarkay but also from other stations of Chukotka and neighboring water zones.
“Storms”.
Many thanks to blogger sergeydolya for the photo report!
It’s easy… WINTER IS COMING.
Very interesting posting.
I have a big respect for all of the team. London
We must all be grateful to the brave souls living in this remote location to serve others. We can also learn from their lives. The way they make their office Cosy is very creative. Thanks for this Blog it made me happy to see this.
Only linux at the computers.
Mostly Windows. Only on one computer is Fedora :/
Well. It seems to me that linux is at all pics where computers are showed. Screens seems to be like some kind of linux (Fedora, as you told). Can you see different or do you know that place?