The Zöbelboden was established in 1992 as the only Integrated Monitoring station in Austria under the UN Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution (CLRTAP). In 2006 it became part of LTER Austria. The Zöbelboden covers a small forested catchment (90 ha) of a karstic mountain range (500 to 950 m above sea level) in the Kalkalpen national park. Monitoring and research is focussing on air pollution effects on forested catchments and its interaction with climate change. The Zöbelboden represents one of the best known karst catchments in Europe with long-term data series of the major components of its ecosystems. The Zöbelboden is managed by the Umweltbundesamt GmbH. Sampling of chemical specimen is done by local staff. Chemical analyses are carried out by the laboratory of the Umweltbundesamt in Vienna.

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General Characteristics, Purpose, History

Site Status:

existing

Year Site Established:

1992

Size :

90.00ha

Purpose of Site :

LTER Zöbelboden is a small, well definable catchment of 90 ha in the National Park Kalkalpen in Austria. Material inputs, pollutants and nutrients via air and precipitation are measured as well as their effects on the ecosystem. Their behaviour within the ecosystem is studied in a comprehensive manner and effects are determined. With standardized methods the long-term trends of ecosystem water and element fluxes are studied. Outputs through surface waters and into groundwater are part of this work as are trends in biodiversity and effects of climate change. The the long-term data is used in the UNECE CLRTAP effects monitoring networks, in EMEP, and the national air pollution monitoring. LTER Zöbelboden is an important site within the Austrian LTER network so that many research institutions use the site in their projects.

History of Site:

For a comprehensive description of the history of the Zöbelboden, please watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL-XnwiXr8Y

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Geographic

Coordinates:

Latitude: 47.842246069311
Longitude: 14.444136161386

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Site Details

Ecosystem and Environmental Characteristics

Elevation Range FROM:

516.00msl

Elevation Range TO:

955.00msl

Elevation - Average:

831.00msl

Air Temperature Range (Monthly Minimum) FROM:

-1.00°C

Air Temperature Range (Monthly Maximum) TO :

15.50°C

Air Temperature: Average Annual:

7.20°C

Precipitation Minimum Monthly :

75.00mm

Precipitation Annual :

1 600.00mm

Precipitation Maximum Monthly :

182.00mm

Biome :

Mixed Forest

GEO-BON Biome:

Terrestrial

Ecosystem and Land Use:

Forest
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests
Temperate coniferous forests

Biogeographical Region:

Alpine

Geology:

The main rock type is Norian dolomite (Hauptdolomit), which is partly overlain by limestone (Plattenkalk). Due to the dominating dolomite, the watershed is not as heavily karstified as limestone karst systems, but showing typical karst features, such as conduits and sink holes. These conduits and sink holes provide pathways for rapid water flow and quick response times to water input at the soil-bedrock interface.

Hydrology:

The watershed can be divided into two distinct sites: A very steep (30 – 70°) slope from 550 – 850 m a.s.l. and an almost flat plateau (850 - 956 m a.s.l.) on the top of the mountain. The areal coverage of each site is 50 % of the watershed. At each site, intensive plots have been selected for comprehensive measurements of hydro-chemical variables. Intensive plot I (IP I) is located on the plateau where Chromic Cambisols and Hydromorphic Stagnosols are found. Intensive plot II (IP II) is located on the slope and dominated by Lithic and Rendzic Leptosols.

Vegetation:

The mean slopes are 14° at IP I and 36° at IP II. IP I is dominated by a Norway spruce (Picea abies) following plantation after a clear cut around the year 1910, whereas a mixed mountain forest with beech (Fagus sylvatica) as the dominant species, Norway spruce (Picea abies), maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) covers IP II. After wind and bark beetle damage at IP I a third intensive plot (IP III) has been established in the year 2008 representing the plateau ecosystem. IP I is still used for studying the effects of disturbance on these ecosystems.

Soils:

Intensive plot I (IP I) is located on the plateau where Chromic Cambisols and Hydromorphic Stagnosols are found. Intensive plot II (IP II) is located on the slope and dominated by Lithic and Rendzic Leptosols.

eLTER Parameters

eLTER Parameters:

Network Affiliation and Network Specific Information

Affiliation:

LTER
eLTER (H2020)
eLTER catalogue
LTER-CWN
EcoPotential (H2020)
EMEP
EnvEurope
ExpeER
IUCN National park
NEC Directive (2016/2284)
Natura 2000
Teabag
ICP Integrated Monitoring

LTER related

LTER Site Code:

LTER_EU_AT_003

LTER Site Classification/Category:

Master

Accreditation Status by LTER Member Network:

Accredited formal LTER facility

ExpeER Classification:

Highly Instrumented Observational Site

Protection Status and Resource Management

Natura 2000

75 - 100%

National park

75 - 100%

Management of Resources :

Yes

Management of Resources - Percent of Site:

0 - 25%

Management of Resources - Notes:

LTER Zöbelboden is part of the Kalkalpen national park, so that human impact is minimized. From the start of the project in 1992 onwards, forest management has been restricted to single tree harvesting just in case of bark beetle infestation.

Design and Scale of Site

Site Type (Spatial Design):

Complex Site

Scale of Observation:

entire catchment

Design of Observation:

mainly observation

Scale of Experiments:

plot scale

Design of Experiments:

partly experimentation

Infrastructure

Infrastructure notes:

The Zöbelboden covers a small forested catchment (90 ha) of a karstic mountain range in the Kalkalpen national park. Meteorological and air pollution monitoring is carried out at a clearing area (EMEP station; includes measurement of fog deposition) and on a tower (45 m height). Three intensive plots exist for the detailed measurement of element fluxes through the main forest types (bi-weekly to monthly analyses of deposition and soil water). Catchment runoff chemistry is measured at the main spring with a measuring weir (weekly analyses) and through irregular sampling at all other springs. Additional karst-hydrological measurements are in place in the main rivers surrounding the mountain range. On 64 permanent plots (regular 100 m grid) forest tree monitoring, ground vegetation and soil sampling is carried out (5 to 10 year interval). Additional permanent plots exist for forest floor vegetation, lichens, bryophytes and birds (3 to 10 year interval). The main stations (EMEP station, intensive plots, the hut) can be reached via a forest road with all year access (once a week in winter).The station has full power supply, a radio transfer of the data within the site and remote online access to the major devices.

Accessible All Year :

Yes

All parts of Site Accessible:

Access Type:

dirt road (4WD)

Permanent Power Supply:

Yes

Infrastructure:

Maintenance infrastructure › Snow clearing equipment
Maintenance infrastructure › Snow clearing frequency › Weekly
Energy and data infrastructure › Data transmission › Data Transmission Type (within site) › Cable based
Energy and data infrastructure › Data transmission › Data Transmission Type (within site) › Radio transmission system (repeaters, receivers, centralstation)
Energy and data infrastructure › Data transmission › Data Transmission Type (within site) › GMS/UMTS
Energy and data infrastructure › Data transmission › Data Transmission Type (from Site) › Telephone line
Energy and data infrastructure › Data transmission › Data Transmission Type (from Site) › GMS/UMTS
Energy and data infrastructure › Energy supply › Permanent Power Supply Location › Central station(s)
Supporting infrastructure › Lodging at site › 1 - 5 beds
Supporting infrastructure › Staff room at site › 1 place
Supporting infrastructure › Transportation › Vehicle 2WD
Supporting infrastructure › Transportation › Vehicle 4WD
Observation device › Measurement tower › More than 10 m above canopy
Observation device › Temperature Controlled Container
Data infrastructure › Metadata standards › EML (Ecological MD Language)
Data infrastructure › Metadata standards › ISO19115/19139
Data infrastructure › Data storage › Paper
Data infrastructure › Data storage › Unstructured file
Data infrastructure › Data storage › Structured file
Data infrastructure › Data storage › Spatial data file (GIS)
Data infrastructure › Data storage › Relational database
Data infrastructure › Data storage › Spatial database (GIS)
Data infrastructure › Data storage › Graph or object database

Operation

Operation Notes:

The Zöbelboden is managed by the Umweltbundesamt GmbH. Sampling of chemical specimen is done by local staff of the Kalkalpen national park. Chemical analyses are carried out by the laboratory of the Umweltbundesamt in Vienna. Maintenance is done on a regular basis by a local contractor.

Permanent Operation:

Yes

Site Visit Interval:

Every 7 days

Maintenance Interval:

Every 30 days

Sensors

Deployed Sensors:

LTER Zöbelboden Austria precipitation WW

Data Management

General Data Policy:

Formal acknowledgement of the dataset providers

Data Policy Notes:

Our data is free upon request, just write us or call us.

Data Storage Location :

Central

Data services :

Other data service

Data Notes:

Data requests will be handled individually.

Associated Data

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