Mountain Measurements and Observations / Germany Matthias Bernhardt Topics • Organisation of Mountain research in Germany • Zugspitze Observatory • Berchtesgaden National Park • Roundup 16.11.2015 Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz 2 Distribution of meteorological Stations Example: Distribution of meteorological stations in the upper Danube catchment Meteorologische Stationen 16.11.2015 Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz 3 Importance of the Alpine water cycle Speicher 16.11.2015 Abflussstütze Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz Speicher 4 Who is supporting mountain hydrology in Germany? • Almost all of basic research infrastructure belongs to the Free State of Bavaria. • Some parts of the meteorological network is operated by the German meteorological service (DWD) and by the Bavarian Avalanche Warning service (LWD). • Specialized instruments are commonly owned by different national Universities. • There was a special research initiative “Mountains as sentinels” of the German science foundation which has founded a small amount of mountain related scientific projects. • Mountain research is currently not in focus of the large founding schemes of e.g. the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) 16.11.2015 Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz 5 Mountain environments in Germany Berchtesgaden National Park (NPB) Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus (UFS) 16.11.2015 Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz 6 Berchtesgaden National Park (NPB) • • • • • • • Established in 1978 Study site of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere program (since 1981) UNESCO biosphere reserve (1990) Elevation range from 600 m a.s.l in the valleys to 2,700 m a.s.l NPB comprises four mountain chains and three valleys The total area is 210km² The main ecosystems are forest (44.1%), mountain pine and green alder shrubs (19.3%), grassland (21%), rock and rubble fields (19.3%), lakes (3.2%) (source: StMLU, 2001) • Blaueis and Watzmann “glacier” with an area of 0.211km² • Geology: Different types of limestone. • Climate: Watzmanngletscher 2012 photo: M. Assigal Blaueis 2014 16.11.2015 Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz 7 Berchtesgaden National Park (NPB) • • • • • • • • • Data Large variety of GIS data sets Detailed information about land use and land use changes Numerous runoff gauges Data of some field campaigns Hard to access Karstic underground A continuously growing network of meteorological stations Comparatively short measurement period 16.11.2015 Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz 8 Berchtesgaden National Park (NPB) T. Marke et al. 2013 M. Warscher et al. 2012 16.11.2015 Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz 9 Berchtesgaden National Park (NPB) 16.11.2015 Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz 10 Environmental research station Schneefernerhaus. • Zugspitze is the highest mountain of Germany (2962m a.s.l.). • Avg. T = -4.2°C Max. T. = 17.9°C Min T. = -35.6°C • Max. snowdepth = 830cm (1944) • Max snow accum. (24h): 150cm (2004) • Max Windspeed: 335 km/h (1985) More specific: • We are at the Hotel Schneefernerhaus. • Opened in 1931 • It was partly destroyed in 1965 by an avalanche (10 death and 21 injured) • The Environmental Research Station (UFS) was opened in 1999 Overview 10 institutions: Free State of Bavaria, German Aerospace Centre, Karlsruhe Research Centre, German Research Center for Environmental Health, German Meteorological Service, Federal Environment Agency, Technische Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, University Augsburg Research fields: • • • • • • • Biosphere and Geosphere Cloud dynamics Cosmic radiation and radioactivity Global Atmosphere Watch High altitude medicine Hydrology Regional climate Environmental research station Schneefernerhaus. • Catchment size: 11km² • Max. elevation: 2962 m a.s.l. • Lowest elevation: 1430 m a.s.l. • Average precip: 2003 mm? • Average Temp.: -2.8 °C • Glaciers: 30.7 ha Runoff data provided by David Morche (Halle) 16.11.2015 Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz 13 Environmental research station Schneefernerhaus. 16.11.2015 Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz 14 Environmental research station Schneefernerhaus. Schneefernerhaus 1999Meteorologische Messungen an der Zugspitze 1900- Research Catchment Zugspitzplatt 201316.11.2015 Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz 15 Environmental research station Schneefernerhaus. Parameters 16.11.2015 Matthias Bernhardt/Karsten Schulz • • • • • • • • • Precipitation Temperatur Humidity Windspeed/direction Global radiation Dew point T Snow depth 2 snow scales 1 snow band • Costs ca. 160000€ 16 Spatial variability 87mm 122mm 94mm 95mm September 2014 122mm 127mm 125mm 242mm 1km 177mm 81mm 86mm 83mm 126mm 108mm 108-242mm 20km 16.11.2015 17 Spatial variability September 2014 1°C 3.3°C 6°C 5°C 7.3°C 5.7°C 1km 16.11.2015 18 Thank you!