Observation Sites

Bukit Kototabang, Indonesia [BKT]

Location

• Country: Indonesia
• Latitude: 0.202° South
• Longitude: 100.3180° East
• Elevation: 845.00 masl
• Time Zone: Local Standard Time + -7.0 hour(s) = UTC

Data

• Available datasets
• Data visualization

Cooperating Agencies

• Bureau of Meteorology and Geophysics

The Global GAW station Bukit Kototabang is located on the island Sumatra, Indonesia (0° 12' 07" S - 100° 19' 05" E). The station is roughly 17 km north of the town Bukittinggi (population: 85'000) and around 120 km north of Padang which the capital of the province West Sumatra. The remote station Bukit Kototabang (which means The Hill of Flying City) is situated in the equatorial zone on the ridge of a high plateau at an altitude of 864.5 m a.s.l., and 40 km off the western coastline. The prevailing winds are blowing either from south-south-east (December to May) or from north-north-west (May to October). The temperature varies from 16 to 25 °C with only slight annual variation and the relative humidity is usually higher than 80%. The facilities at the site consist of a large one-storey building, which provides excellent space for offices, meeting room and laboratories. On the 300 m2 flat roof, the air inlet and several radiation and meteorological equipment are mounted. The station is reached over a small access road which is closed to the public and is a few kilometres off the westerly main road (moderate traffic) between Padang and Medan. The vegetation in the surrounding area (30 km) consists mainly of tropical forest. However, the small access road to the station enabled farmers to develop the area. The station responsible has asked the West Sumatra authorities for support about the concerns regarding the altering of the surrounding environment.

Carbon Cycle Surface Flasks