LTER Zöbelboden - Austria

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.

Last modified

2020-09-01 02:09:53

General Characteristics, Purpose, History

Site Status

Operational

Year Established

1992

Purpose

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 (www.unece-wge.org/), in EMEP, and the national air pollution monitoring. LTER Zöbelboden is an important site within the Austrian LTER (www.lter-austria.at) network so that many research institutions use the site in their projects. Since 2017 LTER Zöbelboden is part of the Austrian research network for ecosystem effects of extreme climate events LTER-CWN (www.lter-austria.at/en/cwn-project/).

History

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

Research Topics

successional dynamics

plants population changes over time

depositions chemistry

isotopic chemistry

soil chemistry

soil solution chemistry

water chemistry

environmental science

Parameters

dissolved organic carbon in soil

atmospheric parameter

air humidity

air specific humidity

air temperature

air vapor pressure deficit

air water vapour pressure

atmospheric pressure

carbon dioxide concentration

daylight length

diffuse radiation intensity

diffuse solar radiation intensity

direct radiation intensity

global radiation irradiance

heat flux

incoming radiation intensity

interception

long wave radiation

maximum temperature

mean annual air temperature

mean annual precipitation

mean annual temperature

methane concentration

net radiation irradiance

net solar radiation irradiance

ozone concentration

plant carbon concentration

precipitation intensity

radiation below canopy intensity

reflected global radiation irradiance

reflected radiation intensity

relative humidity

saturated water content

snow depth

snow water equivalent

soil carbon dioxide flux

solar radiation

sunshine duration

total radiation irradiance

vapor pressure

vapor pressure deficit

wind direction

wind direction (mean and gust)

wind speed

wind speed (mean and gust)

annual net primary production

biological diversity

breast height diameter

canopy cover rate

canopy height

change in population size over time

leaf nitrogen concentration

leaf nutrient

net primary productivity

plant nitrogen concentration

tree diameter at breast height

tree height

chemical parameter

acid neutralising capacity

ammonium content

ammonium nitrate concentration

ammonium nitrogen content

available phosphorus

base cations content in water

base saturation

below ground autotrophic respiration

carbon dioxide concentration

carbon to nitrogen ratio

cation exchange capacity

dissolved nutrient

dissolved organic carbon in soil

dissolved organic carbon in water

inorganic carbon content

inorganic nitrogen content

leaf nitrogen concentration

leaf nutrient

mineral nitrogen mineralised from humus

mineral nitrogen mineralised from organic matter

nitrogen balance

nitrogen budget

nitrogen content

nutrient availability

nutrient concentration

nutrient content

percent carbon

percent nitrogen

percent organic carbon

pH value of water

plant nitrogen concentration

plant nutrient

soil acidity

soil alkalinity

soil carbon dioxyde flux

soil carbon storage

soil gas flux

soil nitrate leaching

soil nitrogen

soil nutrient

soil organic carbon

soil organic residual

soil pH

soil solute amount

soil solution concentration

above ground net primary production

alpha diversity

ammonium content

ammonium nitrate concentration

ammonium nitrogen content

animal species abundance

animal species presence

below ground autotrophic respiration

carbon dioxide concentration

community composition

crown closure

deadwood decaying rate

floristic composition

floristic diversity

forest cover

forest structure

fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation

habitat disturbance

habitat heterogeneity

habitat structure

habitat use

heterotrophic respiration

inorganic nutrient content

land cover type

latent heat

leaf area index

leaf nitrogen concentration

leaf nutrient

macrofauna abundance

microbial diversity

normalized vegetation index

percent carbon

percent nitrogen

percent organic carbon

photosynthetically active radiation intensity

plant species abundance

plant species composition

plant species presence

plant species richness

plant transpiration

potential evaporation

radiation below canopy intensity

root biomass

root dry weight

seedling growth rate

seedling survival rate

soil heat flux

soil macrofauna abundance

soil microbial diversity

soil organic residual

soil solute amount

species abundance

species composition

species group abundance

tree diameter at breast height

tree distribution

vegetation layer composition

vegetation layer structure

vegetation layer type

vegetation pattern

vegetation structure

environmental parameter

abiotic heterogeneity

altitudinal gradient

elevated temperature

environmental heterogeneity

landscape composition

landscape configuration

breast height diameter

ammonium nitrate concentration

ammonium nitrogen content

available water capacity

carbon dioxide concentration

carbon-to-nitrogen ratio

cation exchange capacity

dissolved organic nitrogen in soil

inorganic carbon content

inorganic nitrogen content

mineral nitrogen mineralised from humus

mineral nitrogen mineralised from organic matter

percent carbon

percent nitrogen

percent organic carbon

perched water table depth

potential evaporation

respiration rate

saturated hydraulic conductivity

saturated water content

soil dry bulk density

soil gas flux

soil matrix water potential

soil moisture content

soil moisture field capacity

soil nitrate leaching

soil profile water content

soil respiration

soil solute amount

soil solution concentration

soil solution pH

soil temperature

soil texture

soil volumetric water content

soil water content

soil water content in the root zone

soil water holding capacity

soil water potential

soil water retention

soil water retention curve

soil wilting point

thickness of soil horizon

ammonium nitrate concentration

ammonium nitrogen content

conductivity

dissolved organic carbon in water

dissolved organic nitrogen

dry bulk density

electrical conductivity

hydraulic conductivity

saturated hydraulic conductivity

snow cover

snow depth

snow water equivalent

specific conductivity

Photos

automatic chamber for soil carbon respiration

Meteorological and air pollution measurements

Ancient beech forest exist in part of the area

Eddy covariance measurements

Field hut

Measuring weir

forest ground vegetation monitoring

overview LTER Zöbelboden

Geographic

Size

90.00ha

Elevation (average)

831.00msl

Elevation (min)

516.00msl

Elevation (max)

955.00msl

Affiliation and Network Specific Information

Affiliation

Projects

NEC Directive (2016/2284)

eLTER Plus (H2020) - RA

eLTER Plus (H2020) - TA

eLTER Plus (H2020) - VA

ICP Integrated Monitoring

Download

Site information [.json]

Centroid coordinates [.shp] [.kml]

Bounding Box [.shp] [.kml]

Boundaries [.shp] [.kml]

Site Details

Ecosystem and Environmental Characteristics

GEO-BON Biome

Terrestrial

Biome

Mixed Forest

Ecosystem and Land Use

Forest

Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests

Temperate coniferous forests

Biogeographical Region

Alpine Bio-geographical Region

Air Temperature: Average Annual

7.20°C

Air Temperature Range (Monthly Minimum)

-1.00°C

Air Temperature Range (Monthly Maximum)

15.50°C

Precipitation Annual

1600.00mm

Precipitation Maximum Monthly

182.00mm

Precipitation Minimum Monthly

75.00mm

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.

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.

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.

EUNIS habitat

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) » Beech woodland (G1.6)

Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Coniferous woodland (G3)

Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G) » Coniferous woodland (G3) » Fir and spruce woodland (G3.1)

Design and Scale of Site

Site Type (Spatial Design)

Complex Site

Design of Experimentation

partly experimentation

Scale of Experimentation

plot scale

Design of Observation

mainly observation

Scale of Observation

entire catchment

Infrastructure

Data infrastructure » Data services » Sensor Web Enablement (SWE)

Data infrastructure » Data storage » Paper

Data infrastructure » Data storage » Spatial data file (GIS)

Data infrastructure » Data storage » Spatial database (GIS)

Data infrastructure » Data storage » Structured file

Data infrastructure » Data storage » Unstructured file

Data infrastructure » Data storage » Graph or object database

Data infrastructure » Data storage » Relational database

Data infrastructure » Metadata standards » ISO19115/19139

Data infrastructure » Metadata standards » EML (Ecological MD Language)

Energy and data infrastructure » Energy supply » Permanent Power Supply Location » Central station(s)

Energy and data infrastructure » Data transmission » Data Transmission Type (within site) » GMS/UMTS

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) » Cable based

Energy and data infrastructure » Data transmission » Data Transmission Type (from Site) » GMS/UMTS

Maintenance infrastructure » Snow clearing equipment

Maintenance infrastructure » Snow clearing frequency » Weekly

Observation device » Temperature Controlled Container

Observation device » Measurement tower » More than 10 m above canopy

Supporting infrastructure » Staff room at site » 1 place

Supporting infrastructure » Lodging at site » 1 - 5 beds

Supporting infrastructure » Transportation » Vehicle 4WD

Supporting infrastructure » Transportation » Vehicle 2WD

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) and on a tower (45 m height). The tower is additionally equipped with an eddy corariance system for carbon dioxid and water vapor. One old and two new 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). One plot is equipped with a sapflow system, automated dendrometers, and soil respiration chambers. Catchment runoff chemistry is measured at the main spring with an optical probe for high resolution data and through weekly sampling and analyses. 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

Operation

Permanent Operation

Yes

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.

Site Visit Interval

Maintenance Interval

Data Management

General Data Policy

Formal acknowledgement of the dataset providers

Data Notes

Data requests will be handled individually.

Data Policy Notes

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

Data Storage Location

Central

Data Services

Other data service

Network related information

LTER Site Classification

Master

Related Resources

Additional data

There is EURO-CORDEX climate scenario data available for this site:

Projected Near Surface Specific Humidity Change	RCP26	RCP45	RCP85
Projected Precipitation Change	RCP26	RCP45	RCP85
Projected Sea Level Pressure Change	RCP26	RCP45	RCP85
Projected Surface Downwelling Shortwave Radiation	RCP26	RCP45	RCP85
Projected Near-Surface Wind Speed	RCP26	RCP45	RCP85
Projected Near-Surface Air Temperature	RCP26	RCP45	RCP85
Projected Daily Maximum Near-Surface Air Temperature	RCP26	RCP45	RCP85
Projected Daily Minimum Near-Surface Air Temperature	RCP26	RCP45	RCP85

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