Kenttäasemat

Kenttäasemat, or field stations, are on-site facilities located in natural or semi-natural environments that support systematic data collection and observation by researchers, educators, or monitoring programs. They can be permanent structures attached to universities, museums, or government agencies, or temporary setups established for seasonal fieldwork. Kenttäasemat are designed to operate outside traditional laboratories and provide access to real-world conditions for research and training.

The main purpose of kenttäasemat is to collect and measure environmental variables and biological observations in situ. Typical functions include recording meteorological conditions (temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation), hydrological and soil measurements, ecological and biodiversity surveys, and sometimes geological or seismic data. They often serve as sites for experiments, long-term monitoring programs, and validation of remote sensing data. Infrastructure may consist of shelters or cabins, measurement towers, weather stations, sensors, data loggers, and power and communications systems such as solar panels and wireless links. Data collected at field stations are usually stored locally and then transmitted to central databases, and may be shared with national or international research networks.

Field stations vary in type and scope. Common categories include meteorological stations, ecological or biological field stations, hydrological or limnological stations, and geoscience stations. They may be permanently staffed or operated seasonally, and can function as training sites for students and researchers as well as outreach venues to illustrate field-based science.

In Finland, kenttäasemat are used across universities and research institutes to study climate, ecosystems, and natural processes, contributing to national monitoring programs and international collaborations.