Foundation and Organisation:
In 1926 The International Education Board, founded by Rockefeller, granted
the sum of 75 000 dollars, to cover the cost of the buildings and the equipment
of a new observatory in the Northern Norway for the study of the Aurora
Borealis, atmospheric electricity, terrestial magnetism and allied phenomena.
The expenses connected with the annual running of the observatory were
guaranteed by the Norwegian Government and Storting. A "Magnetic Bureau"
was erected at Bergen, the object of which is to take part in the treatment
and publication of magnetic observations and to assist in the performance
of magnetic work in our country.
The Tromsø observatory and the Magnetic Bureau are both included
in the name Det Norske Institut for Kosmisk Fysikk ("The Norwegian Institute
of Cosmical Physics") which, according to statutes approved by the Government,
is conducted by an executive committee consisting of the Directors of the
Tromsø Observatory and the Magnetic Bureau and the three other appointed
by the Government. |
The Site of the Observatory:
In a report of 1926 to the Officers of the International Education Board
from the members of the preliminary commission already mentioned, the conditions
to be fulfilled by the locality selected for the new observatory, were
stated in the following way: " The location of the observatory should be
selected so as to fulfil in the best possible way the following conditions:
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It is of the greatest importance that a permanent observatory should have
a position where the staff may have good living conditions, and where they
can stand in easy communication with civilisation both as regards ordinary
transport and messages through post, wire, or wireless.
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There should be facilities for obtaining electric power (alternating current)
and water supply.
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An indispensable condition is that the place gives good facilities for
the observations, and for our purpose the most important conditions are:
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That the stations should be as near to the auroral zone as possible.
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The auroral observations require a free horizon and a clear sky facilities
for arranging a second basis station for height measurements.
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Magnetic observations require that the ground does not cause abnormal magnetic
values, and that the spot on which the observations are performed is free
from local magnetic disturbances with a period so large that they are able
to effect the readings of the instruments. The most dangerous source of
such disturbances are direct electrical currents and variations in the
iron tube system in the vicinity of the magnetic huts.
For the work on atmospheric electricity it is advantageous to have
clear and dry air, and ordinarily the observations should be undertaken
on fairly even ground.
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