Source : The Seismolocal Stations København and Scoresby-sund , Geodetic Institute , Copenhagen 1930. "Alfred Wegeners sidste Grønlandsfærd" by Else Wegener , 1930 .
Since the beginning of the 20th century, seismologists had wanted a station in north Greenland. To achieve this end, the Geodetic Institute applied to the Carlsberg Foundation in 1925 for funds to establish such a station. The funds were awarded and the seismologists went on an expedition in the summer to find an appropriate location. The newly established colony of Scoresbysund was chosen and the station was constructed on a plateau about 69 meters above sea level, where old, crystalline, gneissic bedrock is exposed..
In 1927 Daugård-Jensen applied for permission to establish a radio station, to be build in connection with the seismologic station. He proposed that the Danish state and the Carlsberg Foundation divide the operational costs for the station.
Mr Janus Sørensen and two workers arrived in August of 1927 onboard the ship “Gustav Holm”. They erected two houses for the seismc station: these include B2 (today the workshop of plummer Bjarne Thorsen) and B3 (the seismic basement ). In October 1927 radio contact was established with Reykjavik and Angmagsalik using a 2 KW spark sender. In addition to seismologic recording, there were also meteorologic observations.
During the “Danmarks-expedition” of 1906-1908 Alfred Wegener made geological observations which led to his development of the concept of the geologic process of continental drift. In 1928 Wegener was asked to lead an expedition which among other things should make meterological measuremets from 3 stations, one at Umanak, one at the inland ice “Eismitte” and one at Scoresbysund ( first at the colony, later at Jameson Land – the area is now called “Tyskit Nunaat” ).
During the second World War, more and better weather observations were required from Greenland, snf the Americans established a number of weather stations, among others in the “Walrus Bay” west of Scoresbysund. Also, continuous meterological measuring observation was initiated After the war it was decided to establish permanent weather stations in order to provide the meterological information required for trans-Atlantic commercial flights.
Walrus Bay had turned out to be a bad geographic location in terms of radio broadcasting, and a better situated spot was sought. Kap Tobin turned out to be a good spot; it is surrounded with high ground where pylons could be erected and good radio communications maintained. In 1948 the telecommunications and weather station at Kap Tobin started, and now is financed by the United Nations aviation organization (ICAO). Communication was maintained through morse code until the late 1970’s, when Greenlandic weather stations started closing because of better satellite weather forecasting potential. When ICAO wanted to shut down Kap Tobin, a possibility for alternative financing was arranged because the EF ( today EU) had establish funds to establishment of infrastructure. In 1979, The Ministry of Greenland erected a new telecommunication station in Scoresbysund ; The Danish Meteorological Institute wished to continue receiving weather observations from the area and the weather service moved along to the new station.
When satellite connections were first opened in 1980, the technology had become so sophisticated that Scoresbysund went directly from morse telegraphy to satellite and a new telephone network was established in Scoresbysund. At the same time, television transmission started broadcasting in town by cable net; in the beginning via post mailed video tapes from Denmark. Today, Greenlandic radio can be received on FM.
In 1981, Kap Hope and Kap Tobin also acquired telephone connections. 1985 a radio connection to Constable Point was established and ARCO build a large runway at Constable Point the same year as base for oil prospecting at Jameson Land.
In 1992 a stable television transmission is established by satellite.
In 2000 GSM cell phoning was established in Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund).
Today Tele Greenland A/S maintains a stable telephone network, FM-radio and TV in the town, and the villages and at Constable Point. Also, there is internet connection in town by dial-up and ADSL. The Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) broadcasts synoptic weather observations is every 3 hours and a complete meteorological description every 12 hours. In addition, DMI is measuring atmospheric and analyzing magnetic data. The Geodetic Institute has a global positioning system (GPS) station. The Geological Survey of Greenland (GEUS) has a seismic station, and the French National Research Foundation (CNRS) maintains a photo spectroscope, which among other things measures atmospheric ozone levels.
