Atmospheric trace gas measurements are being conducted at the (Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change) NDSC station in Ny-Alesund, Spitsbergen (79°N 12°E) since 1992 using a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer. The FTIR has proven to be a powerful tool for measurements of atmospheric trace gases.Vertical concentration profiles and total columns of about 20-30 different trace gases can be determined. Observed trace gases include CO, HCl, C2H6, C2H2, CH2O, COS. Long-term measurements reveal dramatic enhancements of CO concentration profiles in 1998. This increase is attributed to biomass burning events from late 1997 until 1998. Biomasses burning emissions have profound influences on the composition of the atmosphere. Biomass burning also influences the concentration of other trace gases such as HCN and C2H6, which also showed enhanced column concentrations in 1998. Data evaluation is underway in order to determine the extent of the influence of biomass burning on other trace gases in the Arctic atmosphere.