Cairngorms National Park LTSER - United Kingdom

Basic Information
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Site Name
Cairngorms National Park LTSER
Short name
Cairngorms LTSER
Country
United Kingdom
Web Address
Cairngorms National Park
Site Manager
Jan Dick
Site Description
The Cairngorms National Park is one of 15 National Parks in the UK (one of two in Scotland) and is Britain's largest National Park (4,528 km2). It is the location for some of the most spectacular landscapes in Britain and is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife and plants. http://cairngorms.co.uk/the-park/facts-figures/ The aims of the National Park are: • To conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area; • To promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area; • To promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public; • To promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities. ...
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Last modified
2025-01-07 11:01:07

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General Characteristics and Status
Site Status
Operational
Year Established
2013
Observed properties
ecosystem parameterbiological parameterchemical parametersoil parameteragricultural parameteratmospheric parameterwater parameterlandscape parameterenvironmental parameterphysical parameterremote sensing parameterabovegroundbiomassabovegroundnetprimaryproductionanimalspeciesabundanceanimalspeciespresencebacteriaabundancebacteriapresencebacterialdiversitybacterialrespirationbaresoilcoverbelowgroundautotrophicrespirationbiodiversitylossbirdsabundancebirdspresencebryophytescoverbryophytespresencebryophytesspeciescoveragechangeinpopulationsizeovertimecommunitycompositiondisturbancepatterndrymattercontentecosystemstructureemergencedatefaunisticdiversityfishabundancefloristiccompositionfloristicdiversityfloweringdateforestcoverforeststructurehabitatcomplexityhabitatdisturbancehabitatheterogeneityhabitatstructurehabitatuseinorganicnutrientcontentlandcovertypeleafarealeafareaindexmacrofaunaabundancemicrobialdiversitymicrobialrespirationnaturalnesspercentcarbonpercentnitrogenplantdensityplantdevelopmentstageplantdistributionplantdiversityplantnutrientplantspeciesabundanceplantspeciescompositionplantspeciespresenceplantspeciesrichnesspopulationdensitypopulationsizesoilmacrofaunaabundancesoilmicrobialdiversityspeciesabundancespeciescompositionspecieslistspeciespresencespeciesrichnessstanddensitytreeagetreebasalareatreeconditiontreediametertreediameteratbreastheighttreedistributiontreeheightvegetationlayercompositionvegetationlayerstructurevegetationlayertypevegetationpatternvegetationstructureabovegroundbiomassagedistributionagestructureannualnetprimaryproductionbiologicaldiversitybreastheightdiametercanopyheightchangeinpopulationsizeovertimecrownclosuredispersaldistanceemergencedatefloweringdateforestcoverfunctionaldiversityleafarealeafarearationitrogencontentphenotypicvariationplantcoverplantdensityplantgrowthrateplantheightplantsizepopulationdensitypopulationsizepopulationstructureprimaryproductivityseedlingsurvivalratesexualdimorphismsexualsizedimorphismtreeagetreebasalareatreeconditiontreediametertreediameteratbreastheighttreeheighttreemortalityairnitrogenoxidesconcentrationavailablephosphorusbelowgroundautotrophicrespirationcarbondioxidefluxpersoilhorizoncarbontonitrogenratiochemicalcompositionchemicalcompositionofwaterconcentrationofnitrogenintheentireplantdissolvednutrientdissolvedorganiccarboninsoildissolvedorganiccarboninwaterdissolvedorganicnitrogendissolvedorganicphosphorusinorganiccarboncontentinorganicnitrogencontentinorganicnutrientcontentinsolubleorganiccarboncontentleafnitrogenconcentrationleafnutrientmicrobialbiomasscarbonmineralnitrogenmineralisedfromhumusmineralnitrogenmineralisedfromorganicmatternutrientavailabilitynutrientconcentrationnutrientcontentoxygensaturationpHvalueofwatersoilaciditysoilalkalinitysoilnitrogensoilnutrientsoilorganiccarbonsoilpHsoilsolutionpHwateraciditywateralkalinitywaterturbiditycarbon-to-nitrogenratioconductivitydissolvedorganicnitrogeninsoilelectricalconductivityinorganiccarboncontentinorganicnitrogencontentpercentcarbonpercentnitrogenreflectedglobalradiationirradiancerespirationratesoilaciditysoilalkalinitysoilbulkdensitysoildepthsoilmoisturecontentsoilnitrogensoilnutrientsoilorganiccarbonsoilpHsoilrespirationsoilsolutionpHsoiltemperaturesoiltexturesoilvolumetricwatercontentsoilwatercontentsoilwaterholdingcapacitysoilwaterpotentialthicknessofsoilhorizontotalcarbonactualcroptranspirationamountofnitrateleachingcarbonharvestindexconcentrationofnitrogenintheentireplantcropgrowthratecropsolutecontentcroptranspirationdissolvedorganiccarboninsoildrymatteryieldgrainsizegrainweightgrowthrateharvestindexnitrateflowindrainnitrogensymbioticfixationnitrogenvolatilisationfromfertilisernitrogenvolatilisationfromorganicfertilisernutrientconcentrationnutrientcontentpotentialcroptranspirationrelativegrowthrateseedlinggrowthrateseedlingsurvivalratesoilfertilitysurfaceairtemperatureairhumidityairtemperatureatmosphericpressuredaylightlengthdewpointdiffuseradiationintensitydiffusesolarradiationintensityincomingradiationintensityirradiancemaximumtemperaturemeanannualairtemperaturemeanannualprecipitationmeanannualtemperatureminimumtemperaturenetsolarradiationirradiancereflectedradiationintensityrelativehumiditysnowdepthsolarradiationsunshinedurationtotalradiationirradiancewinddirectionwinddirection(meanandgust)windspeedwindspeed(meanandgust)ammoniumnitrateconcentrationavailablephosphorusdissolvedorganiccarboninwaterelectricalconductivitylakelevellaketemperaturerainfallvariabilityrivertemperaturesecchidepthsnowcoversnowdepthstageheightwateraciditywateralkalinitywatercolourwaterdepthwatertemperaturelandcoverlanduselanduseintensitylandusepatternlandscapecompositionlandscapeconfigurationlandscapeconnectivitylandscapefragmentationlandscapeheterogeneitylandscapemetricslandscapepatternlandscapestructurepatchdensitypatchsizesurfaceareaabioticheterogeneityaltitudinalgradientenvironmentalheterogeneitygroundsurfacetemperaturegroundtemperaturelandsurfacetemperatureseasonalchangesnowdepthbodylengthbodysizebreastheightdiameterbulkdensitycanopyheightdrybulkdensitysizedistributionalbedonetsolarradiationirradianceozoneconcentrationsolarradiation
Affiliation and Network Specific Information
Affiliation
ILTER✔This site is a verified "ILTER" member.
Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA)✖The affiliation of this site with "Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA)" is not verified by the network on DEIMS-SDR.
LTER Europe✔This site is a verified "LTER Europe" member.
SCANNET✖The affiliation of this site with "SCANNET" is not verified by the network on DEIMS-SDR.
UK ECN✔ (LTER_EU_UK_059)This site is a verified "UK ECN" member.
GERI✔This site is a verified "GERI" member.
EUROPARC✖The affiliation of this site with "EUROPARC" is not verified by the network on DEIMS-SDR.
Critical Zone Collaborative Network (CZ Net)✖The affiliation of this site with "Critical Zone Collaborative Network (CZ Net)" is not verified by the network on DEIMS-SDR.
Projects
Natura 2000
Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)
eLTER (H2020)
eLTER catalogue
Teabag
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Photos
A winter scene in Cairngorms National Park
A winter scene in Cairngorms National Park
Geographic
200 km
100 mi
View in site map
Centroid/Representative Coordinates

Latitude: 57.0833 Longitude: -3.6667

Size
ca. 452800.00ha
Elevation (average)
800.00msl
Elevation (min)
200.00msl
Elevation (max)
1309.00msl
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Site information [.json]

Centroid/representative coordinates [.shp] [.kml]
Bounding Box [.shp] [.kml]
Boundaries [.shp] [.kml]
GEO-BON Biome
Terrestrial
Biome
Mixed Forest
Ecosystem Type
Agricultural
Alpine
Forest
Mixed Forest
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests
Temperate coniferous forests
Grasslands
Montane grasslands and shrublands
Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Lakes
Fresh Water Lakes
Large lakes
Small lakes
Rivers
Fresh Water Rivers
Large river headwaters
Large rivers
Small rivers
Urban
Biogeographical Region
Atlantic Bio-geographical Region
EUNIS habitat
Constructed, industrial and other artificial habitats (J)
Constructed, industrial and other artificial habitats (J) » Buildings of cities, towns and villages (J1)
Constructed, industrial and other artificial habitats (J) » Extractive industrial sites (J3)
Constructed, industrial and other artificial habitats (J) » Highly artificial man-made waters and associated structures (J5)
Constructed, industrial and other artificial habitats (J) » Low density buildings (J2)
Constructed, industrial and other artificial habitats (J) » Transport networks and other constructed hard-surfaced areas (J4)
Constructed, industrial and other artificial habitats (J) » Waste deposits (J6)
Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens (E)
Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens (E) » Alpine and subalpine grasslands (E4)
Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens (E) » Alpine and subalpine grasslands (E4) » Acid alpine and subalpine grassland (E4.3)
Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens (E) » Alpine and subalpine grasslands (E4) » Alpine and subalpine enriched grassland (E4.5)
Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens (E) » Alpine and subalpine grasslands (E4) » Moss and lichen dominated mountain summits, ridges and exposed slopes (E4.2)
Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens (E) » Alpine and subalpine grasslands (E4) » Vegetated snow-patch (E4.1)
Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens (E) » Mesic grasslands (E2)
Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens (E) » Mesic grasslands (E2) » Agriculturally-improved, re-seeded and heavily fertilised grassland, including sports fields and grass lawns (E2.6)
Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens (E) » Mesic grasslands (E2) » Low and medium altitude hay meadows (E2.2)
Habitat complexes (X)
Habitat complexes (X) » Blanket bog complexes (X28)
Habitat complexes (X) » Domestic gardens of city and town centres (X24)
Habitat complexes (X) » Domestic gardens of villages and urban peripheries (X25)
Habitat complexes (X) » Intensively-farmed crops interspersed with strips of natural and/or semi-natural vegetation (X07)
Habitat complexes (X) » Land sparsely wooded with broadleaved deciduous trees (X13)
Habitat complexes (X) » Land sparsely wooded with coniferous trees (X15)
Habitat complexes (X) » Land sparsely wooded with mixed broadleaved and coniferous trees (X16)
Habitat complexes (X) » Large non-domestic gardens (X23)
Habitat complexes (X) » Large parks (X11)
Habitat complexes (X) » Pasture woods (with a tree layer overlying pasture) (X09)
Habitat complexes (X) » Raised bog complexes (X04)
Habitat complexes (X) » Small city centre non-domestic gardens (X22)
Habitat complexes (X) » Snow patches (X05)
Habitat complexes (X) » Treeline ecotones (X20)
Inland surface waters (C)
Inland surface waters (C) » Surface running waters (C2)
Inland surface waters (C) » Surface running waters (C2) » Films of water flowing over rocky watercourse margins (C2.6)
Inland surface waters (C) » Surface running waters (C2) » Permanent non-tidal, smooth-flowing watercourses (C2.3)
Inland surface waters (C) » Surface running waters (C2) » Springs, spring brooks and geysers (C2.1)
Inland surface waters (C) » Surface running waters (C2) » Temporary running waters (C2.5)
Inland surface waters (C) » Surface standing waters (C1)
Inland surface waters (C) » Surface standing waters (C1) » Permanent dystrophic lakes, ponds and pools (C1.4)
Inland surface waters (C) » Surface standing waters (C1) » Permanent eutrophic lakes, ponds and pools (C1.3)
Inland surface waters (C) » Surface standing waters (C1) » Permanent oligotrophic lakes, ponds and pools (C1.1)
Inland surface waters (C) » Surface standing waters (C1) » Temporary lakes, ponds and pools (C1.6)
Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats (H)
Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats (H) » Miscellaneous inland habitats with very sparse or no vegetation (H5)
Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats (H) » Miscellaneous inland habitats with very sparse or no vegetation (H5) » Burnt areas with very sparse or no vegetation (H5.5)
Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats (H) » Miscellaneous inland habitats with very sparse or no vegetation (H5) » Trampled areas (H5.6)
Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats (H) » Screes (H2)
Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats (H) » Screes (H2) » Temperate-montane acid siliceous screes (H2.3)
Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats (H) » Screes (H2) » Temperate-montane calcareous and ultra-basic screes (H2.4)
Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats (H) » Snow or ice-dominated habitats (H4)
Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats (H) » Snow or ice-dominated habitats (H4) » Snow packs (H4.1)
Mires, bogs and fens (D)
Mires, bogs and fens (D) » Raised and blanket bogs (D1)
Mires, bogs and fens (D) » Raised and blanket bogs (D1) » Blanket bogs (D1.2)
Mires, bogs and fens (D) » Raised and blanket bogs (D1) » Raised bogs (D1.1)
Mires, bogs and fens (D) » Sedge and reedbeds, normally without free-standing water (D5)
Mires, bogs and fens (D) » Sedge and reedbeds, normally without free-standing water (D5) » Beds of large sedges normally without free-standing water (D5.2)
Mires, bogs and fens (D) » Sedge and reedbeds, normally without free-standing water (D5) » Swamps and marshes dominated by soft rush or other large rushes (D5.3)
Mires, bogs and fens (D) » Valley mires, poor fens and transition mires (D2)
Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural and domestic habitats (I)
Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural and domestic habitats (I) » Arable land and market gardens (I1)
Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural and domestic habitats (I) » Cultivated areas of gardens and parks (I2)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Broadleaved deciduous woodland (G1)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Broadleaved deciduous woodland (G1) » Highly artificial broadleaved deciduous forestry plantations (G1.C)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Broadleaved deciduous woodland (G1) » Mixed riparian floodplain and gallery woodland (G1.2)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Broadleaved deciduous woodland (G1) » Non-riverine woodland with birch, aspen or rowan (G1.9)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Coniferous woodland (G3)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Coniferous woodland (G3) » Highly artificial coniferous plantations (G3.F)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Coniferous woodland (G3) » Scots pine woodland south of the taiga (G3.4)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Lines of trees, small anthropogenic woodlands, recently felled woodland, early-stage woodland and coppice (G5)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Lines of trees, small anthropogenic woodlands, recently felled woodland, early-stage woodland and coppice (G5) » Early-stage natural and semi-natural woodlands and regrowth (G5.6)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Lines of trees, small anthropogenic woodlands, recently felled woodland, early-stage woodland and coppice (G5) » Recently felled areas (G5.8)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Lines of trees, small anthropogenic woodlands, recently felled woodland, early-stage woodland and coppice (G5) » Small broadleaved deciduous anthropogenic woodlands (G5.2)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Lines of trees, small anthropogenic woodlands, recently felled woodland, early-stage woodland and coppice (G5) » Small broadleaved evergreen anthropogenic woodlands (G5.3)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Lines of trees, small anthropogenic woodlands, recently felled woodland, early-stage woodland and coppice (G5) » Small coniferous anthropogenic woodlands (G5.4)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Lines of trees, small anthropogenic woodlands, recently felled woodland, early-stage woodland and coppice (G5) » Small mixed broadleaved and coniferous anthropogenic woodlands (G5.5)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland (G4)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland (G4) » Mixed forestry plantations (G4.F)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland (G4) » Mixed Scots pine - birch woodland (G4.4)
Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland (G4) » Mixed Scots pine - thermophilous oak woodland (G4.C)
Air Temperature: Average Annual
7.00°C
Precipitation Annual
800.00mm
Geology
? Granite massif and plateau ? Internationally important landform record ? Coherent identity of landscape across Park from landform and landcover
Vegetation
Cairngorms National Park, seven broad habitats can be identified: ? Enclosed farmlands ? Woodlands ? Open waters (rivers, lochs, wetlands and floodplains) ? Mountains ? Moorland ? Semi-natural grasslands ? Urban
Soils
? SSSIs with soils of international importance ? 12 SSSIs with soils of national importance ? High proportion of undisturbed soils (only 2% cultivated) ? Podzols form 50% of soil cover including internationally significant alpine podzols on the plateau ? Peat forms 13% of soil cover ? Significant Scottish carbon store in soils and peat.
Hydrology
? 81% of streams classified as excellent (A1) or good (A2) (SEPA 2003) ? 20 sq km standing waters ? Catchments of 6 major rivers
Protection Level (IUCN category)
Category II – National Park
Category IV – Habitat/Species Management Area
Category V – Protected Landscape/Seascape/Area
Site Type
Platform
Design of Experimentation
partly experimentation
Scale of Experimentation
beyond catchment scale
Design of Observation
mainly observation
Scale of Observation
beyond catchment
Permanent Power Supply
Yes
Equipment
Maintenance infrastructure » Snow clearing equipment
Observation devices » Camera traps
Data infrastructure » Data services » Web Map Service (WMS)
Data infrastructure » Data services » Web Feature Service (WFS)
Data infrastructure » Data services » Web Catalog Service (CSW)
Data infrastructure » Data services » Other data services
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Paper
Data infrastructure » Data storage » XML database
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Unstructured file
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Structured file
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Spatial database (GIS)
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Spatial data file (GIS)
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Graph or object database
Supporting infrastructure » Transportation » Vehicle 2WD
Supporting infrastructure » Transportation » Snow mobile
Supporting infrastructure » Transportation » Boat
Supporting infrastructure » Transportation » Vehicle 4WD
Supporting infrastructure » Staff room at site » Unknown number of places
Supporting infrastructure » Lodging at site » Unknown number of beds
Equipment notes
This LTSER site is a National Park not a simple LTER site. The site is accessible with a range of vehicles and some places only by foot. The majority of these questions are not relevant to LTSER platforms. The answer to most is yes at some places
Accessible All Year
Yes
All parts of Site Accessible
No
Access Type
dirt road (4WD)
Permanent Operation
Yes
Operation Notes
Operation cost distributed between Cairngorms National Park Authority and several key research institutions
Site Visit Interval
365
Maintenance Interval
7
Data Policy Notes
Note these options are relevant to LTER site not LTSER platform. The LTSER platform is composed of a number of research organisations and visiting scientists e.g. through transnational access programs have their own data policy.
LTER Site Classification
LTSER
There is EURO-CORDEX climate scenario data available for this site:
Projected Near Surface Specific Humidity ChangeRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Precipitation ChangeRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Sea Level Pressure ChangeRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Surface Downwelling Shortwave RadiationRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Near-Surface Wind SpeedRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Near-Surface Air TemperatureRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Daily Maximum Near-Surface Air TemperatureRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Daily Minimum Near-Surface Air TemperatureRCP26RCP45RCP85

You can also download the entire climate scenario dataset for this site from the EUDAT B2SHARE data store.