Bei uns nicht heimische Baumarten, welche an ein wärmeres und trockeneres Klima angepasst sind, könnten zur Bewältigung des Klimawandels beitragen. Sechs solche «Gastbaumarten» werden in einem Langzeitversuch bei Mutrux (VD) getestet.

Available languages: German

In Switzerland exist around 600 km of avalanche protection constructions, mainly between 1800m and 2500m of altitude. Two pilot creations in Bellwald (VS) test whether avalanche protection constructions are suited as carriers of photovoltaic panels and for producing electric power. In our project we evaluated with qualitative and quantitative methods how local tourists and local inhabitants perceive these pilot creations and, more generally, to which degree they accept solar panels in different environmental settings.

Available languages: German English

Renewable energy production (wind power, hydropower, solar power, geothermal energy, and biomass) is a landscape service with growing importance and high political relevance in Switzerland. The expansion of energy production will have a strong impact on competing landscape services such as agricultural production, recreation, tourism, biodiversity conservation and aesthetics.

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Das im QUERCO-Experiment der WSL erworbene Forschungswissen über das Verhalten von Eichen im Umweltwandel wird für die Praxis (Forst und Naturschutz) aufgearbeitet und zielgruppengerecht kommuniziert. Dabei soll auch das Verständnis und die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Forschung und Praxis weiter verbessert werden. Zudem wird auch eine breite Öffentlichkeit informiert.

Available languages: German French

Snow cornices up to several meters high impressively show how strong the wind influences the snow cover in mountains. SLF investigates where the wind erodes and deposits snow and how the snow changes during transport through experiments in a wind tunnel and at the Weissfluhjoch Versuchsfeld.

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In the SLF boundary-layer wind-tunnel the characteristics of saltation are investigated. In particular, the snow particle size distribution, the snow mass concentration and the intermittency of snow transport are addressed. Additionally, particle trajectories of drifting snow, i.e. their ejection/impact velocities and angles, heights, distances, and curvatures are studied.

Available languages: German English

Since more than 10 years the SLF has studied impacts of ski tourism on the environment and especially on plants and vegetation. The main research focus has been on the vegetation on graded ski runs, on impacts of snowmaking and on the relationship between biodiversity and soil erosion.

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Das spröde Brechen von Schnee spielt eine wichtige Rolle bei der Auslösung von Lawinen. Um das Brechen von Schnee besser zu verstehen, versuchen wir in diesem Projekt herauszufinden wie und vor allem wo Schnee bricht.

Available languages: German

Permafrost is becoming increasingly relevant in the context of climate change. The SLF uses a terrestrial laser scanner to monitor surface changes on various types of permafrost landforms, including the rock glacier ‘Foura da l’amd Ursina’ above Pontresina.

Available languages: German English French Italian

Drifting snow significantly influences snow distribution and consequently avalanche hazard, ecology and hydrology in the Alpine region. With the current drifting snow models we are able to predict the spatial snow distribution relatively well on scales of a few meters. To understand and predict finer scales of snow distribution however, the complex drifting snow process must be better understood. This requires measurements of drifting snow mass flux profiles.

Available languages: English