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!