Aukstaitija Integrated Monitoring Station - Lithuania

Aukštaitija integrated monitoring station (LT01) was founded in 1993, and measurements continuously carried on since. The station is administrated by Vytautas Magnus University and Nature Protection Agency of Lithuania. The station is part of: - National ecosystem and air monitoring programs - ICP Integrated Monitoring - ICP Forest - eLTER network - GERI The majority of ICP IM and ICP Forests measurements are carried in Aukštaitija National Park, Ažvinčiai strict nature reserve, Versminis river basin. The area of the basin is 101.5 ha. The rest of the infrastructure requiring measurements is carried out in nearby Rūgšteliškis village 55.46339 26.00427 and its surrounding forest stands. According to long-term AIMS data, the average annual air temperature in the area is 6.9 ± 0.8 °C and the annual precipitation is 680 ± 100 mm. The growing season lasts on average 189 days, with an average temperature of 13.2 ± 0.6 °C and precipitation of 420 ± 94 mm. Based on the analysis of meteorological data from the monitoring station (Augustaitis et al., 2018; Augustaitis, 2019), a statistically significant increase in annual temperature of 0.043 °C per year was identified. The area is covered by multi-aged and multi-layered natural or seminatural mixed coniferous forest stands, dominated by Scots pine and Norway spruce with the admixture of Silver and Downy birches. Soil properties vary from deep (>120 cm) haplic arenosol, with a high proportion of sand (~90%) covering the majority of the area. To water-saturated, deep (>80 cm) terric histosol consisting mostly of low-moor deep eutrophic peat soil located in the lowest places of the Versminis river basin. The goal of the research station is a better understanding of the environment and a more harmonious coexistence with/within it.