The GAMAS (gaseous mercury in interstitial air in snow) instrument developed in our laboratory is a new device devoted to sampling and determination of gaseous mercury concentration in interstitial air in snow. Sampling probes inserted in the snowpack, coupled with a Gardis mercury vapour analyser, provide reliable and original data of vertical profiles of both snow temperature and gaseous mercury concentration at several depths in a snow mantle. This instrument has been tested successfully in Station Nord in Greenland in February-March 2002. A description of this instrument, of the sampling area and its setting up is presented with precise details. Illustrations of the first investigations are given showing a rapid decrease of gaseous mercury concentration simultaneously with depth. A concentration of 0.10 ng/m(3) is reached at 120 cm depth. It may be the result of fast oxidation processes occurring within the snowpack. Gaseous mercury behaviour in the snowpack is a central parameter to elucidate the fate of deposited mercury after mercury depletion events in polar regions. With our new device, we have now the opportunity to determine this key parameter.