Arctic RISE projects NAMAS

NAMAS

Novel Autonomous atmospheric Measurements for improved Arctic prediction and Security

Piloting low-cost, low-power all-sky cameras at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, to measure cloud base height and winds at cloud base through the polar night.

Lead
University of Leeds
Partner
Wx Labs
Location
UK Arctic Research Station, Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard
Programme
UK-Arctic Partnerships for Security, Resilience and Innovation 2026–2027

Overview

About NAMAS

NAMAS will demonstrate a novel, low-cost approach to improving Arctic atmospheric observations, using Arctic-proven all-sky imaging cameras that operate autonomously, use little power and need minimal maintenance once installed.

The project will deliver a pilot data stream of cloud base height and winds at cloud base, engage operational forecasting centres, and build links with Arctic RISE and the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP).

The aim is to work towards a proven, scalable observing capability with applications in atmospheric science, environmental monitoring, numerical weather prediction and Arctic security.

Approach

How it works

Three all-sky cameras, spaced apart on the ground, photograph the whole sky at once. Seen from different positions, the same cloud features can be triangulated to give their height.

Stereoscopic imaging gives cloud base height, a core measurement for meteorological context and aviation safety. Tracking how cloud features move between image sequences, using AI-based motion tracking, gives atmospheric motion vectors: winds at cloud base.

Because each camera sees the whole sky rather than a single column overhead, the system can detect changing weather before it arrives over the site. The WxVisionTM cameras, developed by Wx Labs, are designed for night-time imaging and heated to clear snow, ice and frost, making them suited to the polar night. As a stretch goal, the project will also test detection of airborne objects.

How all-sky cameras measure cloud base height and winds Three all-sky cameras on the ground each view the same cloud feature from a different position. Their lines of sight meet at the cloud base, giving its height by triangulation. Tracking the feature over time gives the wind at cloud base. cloud base Cloud motion → wind at cloud base (AMVs) Cloud base height by triangulation Three all-sky cameras each sees the whole sky
Schematic (not to scale). Cameras at different positions see the same cloud feature from different angles; triangulating their lines of sight gives cloud base height, and tracking features through time gives winds at cloud base.

Objectives

What NAMAS will do

  1. Deploy three all-sky cameras at Ny-Ålesund for up to five months.
  2. Build the data pipeline and refine the cloud base height and wind algorithms for the polar night.
  3. Open discussions with modelling centres on using the data in numerical weather prediction.
  4. Develop links with Ny-Ålesund and international initiatives, including Arctic RISE, PACES and AMAP, towards a longer-term vision for scaling up the measurements.

Outcomes

Expected outcomes

During the project

  • A readily deployable all-sky camera system proven in Arctic conditions.
  • Arctic-optimised algorithms for cloud base height and winds from low-cost, low-power cameras.
  • A demonstration data pipeline ready for assimilation trials at modelling centres.
  • Presentation of the new capability to Arctic stakeholders, including modelling centres and the Arctic RISE community.

Longer term

  • A peer-reviewed publication on the algorithms and data quality.
  • A five-month pilot dataset of all-sky images, cloud base height and cloud-base winds, for weather-prediction trials, aviation, and Arctic safety and security.
  • A route towards a wider network of all-sky cameras across the Arctic, providing real-time data to forecasting centres, air navigation providers and others.

Arctic RISE

Part of a wider effort

NAMAS contributes to Arctic RISE's aim of expanding routine profile observations across the Arctic. Its outcomes will feed into longer-term Arctic RISE activity on data for model evaluation and assimilation, and into developments towards IPY 2032–33.

Through the PACES community and the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), the project will connect with operational forecasting centres, and with Arctic assessment activities.

About Arctic RISE

Team

Team and partners

  • Steve ArnoldUniversity of Leeds · Principal Investigator
  • Ben PickeringWx Labs · All-sky camera development, deployment and data processing
  • Kathy LawLATMOS, CNRS · Partner (PACES)
  • Simon WilsonPartner (AMAP)

References

  1. Arnold, S. R. et al. (2026a). A pivotal role for air pollution during rapid Arctic change. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 14. doi:10.1525/elementa.2025.00129
  2. Arnold, S. R. et al. (2026b). A need for routine regular vertical profiling in the Arctic atmosphere. Arctic Observing Summit 2026, Aarhus, Denmark. doi:10.5281/zenodo.21040248
  3. ICARP IV Research Priority Team 1 (2026). The Role of the Arctic in the Global Earth System. Final report, March 2026. doi:10.33112/VOYT5486
  4. Lee, E. et al. (2022). Remote Sensing, 14(21), 5287. doi:10.3390/rs14215287