Alptal - Switzerland

Basic Information
Site Name
Alptal
Short name
ALP
Country
Switzerland
Site Manager
Site Description
The forest site "Alptal" has been installed in 1995 as part of the Swiss Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research Programme LWF. The programme investigates anthropogenic and natural forces on the long-term health of the forests and the potential risks to humans. For this, a profound understanding of the relationship between processes, causes and effects in the ecosystem are necessary. The objectives of the LWF research programme include (i) early detection and a representative assessment of changes in forest condition, (ii) determination of external influences, both from anthropogenic and natural sources such as element inputs and climate and their effect on the forest ecosystem, (iii) development of indicators to assess the condition of the forest, (iv) integrated risk assessment based on different stress scenarios, and (v) extended platform for internal and external research projects. The LWF research programme provides, on the one hand, long-term data series from the last 20 years, together with a scientific interpretation to national and international policy makers. On the other hand, the available data and latest LWF infrastructure provide an attractive scientific platform for collaboration with both national and international partners. The site is located next to Alpthal in the canton of Schwyz, within a natural, coniferous forest stand which consists of 180-230 year-old spruce (Picea abies) trees. Among others, the site is equipped with two meteorological measurement stations; one is located within the forest stand, the second is co-located in the nearby open-field, allowing to measure the forest stand effect on micro-climate. The following parameters are being measured (starting-end year): atmospheric deposition (1996-1998), circular vegetation (1995-today), crown condition (1995-today), Deadwood survey (1995,2005), diameter and height (1999-today), foliar analyses (1995-today), leaf area index (1996-today), lichens (2003-today), litterfall (1996-1998), manual circumference band (2001-today), matric potential (1997-1999), meteorological parameters (1997-today), ozone injuries (2002-today), ozone visible injury assessment (2002-today), passive sampling of O3 (2002-2004), Phenological observations (1995-1998), soil matrix chemistry (1998-today), soil morphology (1998-today), tree core sampling (1791-1998), tree crown measurements (1995-today), deadwood sampling (2009).
Last modified
2024-03-25 01:03:47

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General Characteristics and Status
Site Status
Operational
Year Established
1995
Affiliation and Network Specific Information
Affiliation
Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research (LWF)This site is a verified "Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research (LWF)" member.
ILTERThis site is a verified "ILTER" member.
LTER EuropeThis site is a verified "LTER Europe" member.
ICP Forests (50_1)This site is a verified "ICP Forests" member.
LTER Switzerland (LTER_EU_CH_001)This site is a verified "LTER Switzerland" member.
Photos
The valley Alptal seen from Mythen. Photo: Peter Waldner, 2012
The valley Alptal seen from Mythen. Photo: Peter Waldner, 2012
The new meteorological station in the stand of the LWF plot. Photo: Anne Thimonier Rickenmann, 2020
The new meteorological station in the stand of the LWF plot. Photo: Anne Thimonier Rickenmann, 2020
On the Intensive Monitoring Site in the Alp Valley. Photo: Flurin Sutter, 2013
On the Intensive Monitoring Site in the Alp Valley. Photo: Flurin Sutter, 2013
Geographic
Elevation (average)
1160.00msl
Elevation (min)
1149.00msl
Elevation (max)
1170.00msl
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Site information [.json]

Centroid/representative coordinates [.shp] [.kml]
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