• 2001- present: Research Scientist, Norwegian Polar Institute, Svalbard
• 2000 – 2001: Research Scientist, Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø
• 1999 – 2000: Research Scientist, Norwegian Institute of Air Research, Kjeller
• 1995 – 1997: Leader of the Geophysical Section, Norwegian Polar Institute
• 1993 – 1998: Research Scientist, Norwegian Polar Institute, Oslo.
• 1993: Dr. Scient. (PhD), Univ. of Oslo (Atmospheirc Physics, Meteorology and Infrasound
• 1989: Cand. Scient., Univ. of Oslo (Ionospheric Physics and Atmospheric Infrasound)
• 1985: History and Science of Music, Univ. of Oslo, 1 year (Grunnfag)
• 1984: Basic Pedagogics, Univ. of Oslo, ½ year (Pedagogisk Seminar)
• 1983: Cand. Mag., Univ. of Oslo, 1983. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Informatics.

RESEARCH INTERESTS/AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Research experience primary within Atmospheric Radiation, Surface Radiation Budget and UV-Radiation in the Arctic, as well as from Atmospheric Infrasound and Auroral Physics. Multidisciplinary collaboration on biological effects of climate and UV-radiation variability. Current research on Spectral Albedo, UV-Radiation and Radiation Climate of the Arctic.
• Project management experience of several EU-funded research projects like the structural research and mobility project Ny-Ålesund LSF, the European network of environmental research infrastructures ENVINET and a EuroConference.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES/PROJECT INVOLVEMENT

• 1993 – present: Long term monitoring of the Surface Radiation Budget in Ny-Ålesund, program started in 1974, studying the short and long term trends and variability of shortwave and longwave radiation quantities as well as surface spectral and broadband albedo, and their relation to other atmospheric parameters. Data also used in a number of biological studies.
• 1993 – present: Monitoring of atmospheric spectral and broadband UV-radiation in Ny-Ålesund since 1993, studying the variability of surface UV-radiation with respect to solar elevation, clouds, aerosols and surface albedo, as well as the attenuation of UV-radiation in marine and freshwater environments, supporting biological effect studies.
• 1996-2002: Coordinating the EU-funded research and mobility program "Ny-Ålesund Large Scale Facility for Arctic Environmental Research" (Ny-Ålesund LSF), funding more than 10% of the total research in Ny-Ålesund.
• 2000-2003: Coordinating the EU-funded research infrastructure network "European Network for Environmental Research" – ENVINET, establishing collaboration between 17 high quality research infrastructures in the Arctic-Alpine northern Europe.
• 2001-2003: Coordinating 2 large international research conferences at the Polar Environmental Centre; The "6th Ny-Ålesund International Scientific Seminar" October 2002 with 70 participants and the Euro Conference "Arctic-Alpine Ecosystems and People in a Changing Environment" March 2003 with 200 participants
• 1996-2002: Member of the Scientific Steering Committee for the Polar Research Program "Arctic Light and Heat – ALV", Norwegian Research Council

AFFILIATIONS

• American Geophysical Union - AGU
  
• European Geophysical Society - EGS
  
• European Association of Research Managers and Administrators - EARMA
  
• Norsk Geofysisk Forening - NGF
  
• Norsk Fysisk Forening – NFF

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
(Journals and books, 1st or 2nd author)

Ørbæk, J.B., Tombre, I., Kallenborn, R., Hegseth, E., Falk-Petersen, S. and Hoel (eds.), 2005: Arctic-Alpine Ecosystems and People in a Changing Environment, Springer Verlag, 250 pp. (In prep)

Ørbæk, J.B., Tombre, I and Kallenborn, R. 2004: "Challenges in Arctic-Alpine Environment Research". Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, Special Issue VOL. 36, No.2, 2004 (in press)

Ørbæk, J.B. and Engelsen, O., 2004: Variability and Feedbacks of UV-radiation and Surface Radiation Budget in the Arctic. In: S. Gerland and B. Njåstad (eds.), "Arctic Climate Feedback Mechanisms", Proceeding of the ACIA Climate Feedback Workshop, Norwegian Polar Institute 17-19 November, Norwegian Polar Institute Report Series, Nr. 124, 49-52

Hinkler, J., Ørbæk, J.B. and Hansen, B.U., 2003: Detection of spatial, temporal, and spectral surface changes in the Ny-Ålesund area 79° N, Svalbard, using a low cost multispectral camera in combination with spectroradiometer measurements. In: J.B. Orbaek et al. (ed.), "The changing physical environment of Ny-Alesund Svalbard", Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, Volume 28, Issues 28-32, 1229-1239

Ørbæk, J.B. et al. (eds.) 2003: "The changing physical environment of Ny-Alesund Svalbard". Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, Volume 28, Issues 28-32, 1173-1278

Ørbæk, J.B., Svenøe, T. and Hessen, D.O., 2002: Spectral properties and UV-attenuation in Arctic fresh-water systems. In: D.O.Hessen (ed.), UV-Radiation and Arctic Ecosystems, Ecological Studies, Vol. 153, Springer Verlag, 57-72

Ørbæk, J.B., Hisdal, V. and Svaasand, L.E., 1999: Radiation climate variability in Svalbard: surface and satellite observations. Proc. of the International Conference on Polar Aspects of Global Change, Tromsø, Norway, Polar Research, 18(2), 127-134

Ørbæk, J.B., 1999: Atmospheric research, networking and exchange at the Ny-Ålesund international arctic environmental research and monitoring facility in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. In: M. Colicano and G. Giovanelli (ed.), Proc. of the 8th Workshop Italian Research on Antarctic Atmosphere, CNR, Societa Italiana di Fisica, Bologna, Italy, Conference Proceedings 69: 307-318

Yamanouchi, T. and Ørbæk, J.B., 1995: Comparative study of the surface radiation budget at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard and Syowa station, Antarctica, 1987. National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo, Proceedings of the NIPR Symposium on Polar Meteorology and Glaciology, No.9, 118 – 132

Ørbæk, J.B., Naustvik, M., 1995: Infrasonic signatures of a polar low in the Norwegian and Barents Sea on 23-27 March 1992. Tellus 47A(5:2): 921-940

Ørbæk, J.B., 1993: Infrasonic Direction-of-Arrival Measurements for Acoustic Remote Sensing of Polar Lows. Dr.Scient.Thesis, Univ. of Oslo, 102 pp

Ørbæk, J.B., 1989: Infrasound, Micropulsations and ELV/VLF-emissions at Cusp Latitudes. Cand.Scient.Thesis, Univ. of. Oslo, 252 pp