Meteorological observations in long-term forest ecosystem research plots

Rationale

Meteorological measurements are carried out under the canopy at the observation plots.

Meteorological factors play an important part in plant phenology. Long-term records from the Swiss Meterorological Institute (SMI, MeteoSwiss) indicate that climate is changing in Switzerland, particularly in the mountains. Warming appears to be much more important at this scale than on the global scale. These regional climate changes are likely to have an effect on forest ecosystems. However, to document these changes, and to understand the short-term dynamics in the ecosystems, site-specific meteorological data are required. In addition, detailed analyses of specific aspects of the evolution of climate in Switzerland are necessary.

Project aims

• Continuous collection of meteorological data in LWF plots
• Establishment of a meteorological LWF-database
• Linking of LWF-data with those of the Swiss Climate Database (SMI, MeteoSwiss) and analyses of specific aspects of the evolution of climate in Switzerland.

Methods

Meteorological measurements are carried out under the canopy at the observation plots, and in open areas outside the plots. For the latter, the meteorological station is located less than 2 km from the plot, in a region of similar topography (altitude, slope orientation, distance from the bottom of a valley, etc.). We measure air temperature and humidity, solar radiation, UV-B and PAR radiation, precipitation, and wind speed and direction. Each meteorological station produces some 250,000 individual data per year, i.e. half a million meteorological data for each of the observation plots.

Work plan

• The meteorological LWF - database is presently under construction.
• Specific analyses of Swiss climate data have already been published.

Participants

• Peter Jakob
• Martine Rebetez (Project leader)
• Gustav Schneiter (Project leader)
• Flurin Sutter

Contact

• Martine Rebetez
  

• Gustav Schneiter