Bessanese high-elevation experimental site - Italy

Basic Information
Site Name
Bessanese high-elevation experimental site
Short name
Bessanese experimental site
Country
Italy
Web Address
https://geoclimalp.irpi.cnr.it/bacino-della-bessanese/
Operating Organisation
CNR - Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection (IRPI)
Site Manager
Guido Nigrelli
Funding Agency
CNR - Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection (IRPI)
Site Description
The Bessanese high-elevation experimental site is located in the Western European Alps (Graian Alps, municipality of Balme, Italy). This site is representative of the glacial and periglacial environments of the Alps. In this site, glaciers have been the main morphogenetic agent: the head of the basin hosts a well-developed glacial cirque, while the LIA has left an imposing moraine on the left side of the glacier as an indelible mark in the landscape. Additional cryogenic and atmospheric processes, running waters and gravity have contributed to shape the study area. These latter processes are becoming more and more important, compared to glacier shaping, in the present context of climate change, which led to an impressive-areal and ...
Show more ...
Last modified
2024-08-27 12:08:43

CC-BY-NC Logo

General Characteristics and Status
Site Status
Operational
Year Established
2014
Observed properties
atmospheric parameterwater parameterecosystem parameterenvironmental parameterphysical parametersoil parameterlandscape parameterairtemperatureatmosphericpressuremaximumtemperaturemeanannualairtemperatureminimumtemperatureprecipitationintensityreflectedradiationintensityrelativehumiditysnowdepthsolarradiationwinddirectionwindspeedlaketemperaturerivertemperaturewatercolourwatertemperaturebirdspresencefloristiccompositionfloweringdategroundsurfacetemperaturegroundtemperaturesnowdepthbodytemperaturebulkdensityheatfluxsoilalbedosoilpHsoiltemperaturelandcover
Climate
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec mm 0 20 40 60 80 100 200 300-70 -40 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 °C
Average Monthly Air Temperature
Temperature Mean: 1.13 °C
Standard Reference Period: 1991 - 2020
Photos
The Bessanese high-elevation experimental site
The Bessanese high-elevation experimental site
Geographic
1 km
3000 ft
View in site map
Centroid/Representative Coordinates

Latitude: 45.29806 Longitude: 7.14274

Size
ca. 600.00ha
Elevation (average)
2600.00msl
Elevation (min)
1795.00msl
Elevation (max)
3601.00msl
Download

Site information [.json]

Centroid/representative coordinates [.shp] [.kml]
Bounding Box [.shp] [.kml]
Boundaries [.shp] [.kml]
GEO-BON Biome
Terrestrial
Biome
Alpine
Ecosystem Type
Alpine
Grasslands
Montane grasslands and shrublands
Biogeographical Region
Alpine Bio-geographical Region
EUNIS habitat
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) » 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)
Habitat complexes (X)
Habitat complexes (X) » Snow patches (X05)
Air Temperature: Average Annual
0.60°C
Precipitation Annual
1500.00mm
Landforms
Mountain
Geology
The glacial basin is carved in the Oceanic Units of the Western and Ligurian Alps, in particular in the Gastaldi Greenstones Zone. Calcschists and Metabasites are the prevailing lithotypes. Calcschists are found mainly in the eastern part of the study area, while Metabasites form the “Uja di Bessanese” ridge. In the southern part of the basin, an isolated outcrop of Serpentinites is found.
Site Type
Stationary land-based site
Design of Experimentation
mainly experimentation
Scale of Experimentation
catchment scale
Design of Observation
mainly observation
Scale of Observation
entire catchment
Permanent Power Supply
Yes
Equipment
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Paper
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Spatial database (GIS)
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Spatial data file (GIS)
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Relational database
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Graph or object database
Supporting infrastructure » Transportation » Helicopter
Supporting infrastructure » Staff room at site » 1 place
Equipment notes
In the experimental area there is a hut (owner Club Alpino Italiano, Sezione di Torino) which is open from June to September. This hut is equipped with electricity produced by solar panels (see: https://www.rifugiogastaldi.com/). in the hut there is a phone, in the area there is no mobile phone signal. Close to the hut, there is an AWS (owner ARPA Piemonte). This AWS has been active since 1988 and the data it has acquired has good continuity and few missing values (see http://webgis.arpa.piemonte.it/bancadatimeteo/php/meteo.php?CODTOT=001019900). During the summer 2016, we have installed a 360° webcam, at 2775 m a.s.l., on the left morain of the Bessanese glacier. This webcam is equipped with electricity produced by solar panels. During the summer 2021, the webcam was moved close to the hut (2659 m a.s.l.).
Accessible All Year
No
All parts of Site Accessible
Yes
Access Type
footpath/trail
Permanent Operation
No
Related Resources on DEIMS-SDR
3 sensor(s) in total:
Albedometer
Meteorological station
Temperature data loggers