EISCAT_3D Skibotn

EISCAT_3D Skibotn, located in northern Norway, is the core site of EISCAT’s next-generation radar system

69°20’23.9″N 20°18’51.3″E

EISCAT_3D at Skibotn, located in northern Norway, is the core site of EISCAT’s next-generation radar system. It represents a major step forward in our ability to observe and understand the Earth’s upper atmosphere and near-Earth space. Using thousands of small antennas working together as one large radar, EISCAT_3D can track atmospheric and space phenomena in three dimensions and in unprecedented detail.

Unlike traditional radars, EISCAT_3D can observe large volumes of the ionosphere almost simultaneously. This allows scientists to follow how structures, particles and energy move through the upper atmosphere over time. The system provides new insights into processes such as auroras, space weather events and the complex interaction between the Sun and the Earth’s space environment.

The Skibotn site is ideally located beneath the auroral oval, making it a prime location for studying geomagnetic activity and its effects on the ionosphere. Combined with other EISCAT_3D sites in the Nordic region, the radar forms a distributed system that enables researchers to reconstruct the dynamics of near-Earth space with high accuracy.

EISCAT_3D at Skibotn is designed to serve the international scientific community for decades to come. It supports fundamental and applied research, education and technological development, and plays a key role in improving our understanding of space weather and its impact on modern society.

EISCAT_3D Skibotn

Photo: Johan Svensson