Managed (grazed) alpine grassland at 1900–2500 m asl, mainly on calcareous bedrock. The area and the adjacent facilities are part of the ETH Research Station. Eddy covariance flux measurements were carried out in campaign mode during summer in 2006 to 2014 (tower coordinates: 46°34’59.5″ N and 9°47’25.5″ E at 1978 m asl). Since 2014, measurements are running continuously.
Location
Altitude: 1978 m a.s.l.
Site name: Alp Weissenstein, Kt. Graubünden, Switzerland
Parcel name: Hirschwiese 3C (location of eddy covariance station)
Land use: Grazing 1-2 times per year, summer-grazed pasture
Coordinates: 46°34’58.998″ N / 9°47’26.257″ E (46.583056, 9.790639) (Google Maps)
Location description: –
FLUXNET ID: CH-Aws
Climate
All numbers shown are for the time period 2015-2021.
Air temperature
Average air temperature: 4.0°C
Warmest year: 2020 (4.5°C)
Coolest year: 2021 (3.3°C)
Highest measured air temperature: 26.9°C (26 Jun 2019, half-hourly average between 14:30 and 15:00)
Lowest measured air temperature: -19.9°C (27 Feb 2018, half-hourly average between 18:30 and 19:00)
Land cover (IGBP land classification): coming soon
Community: Deschampsio cespitosae-Poetum alpinae (at research site), Trifolio thalii-Festucetum violoceae (slope above research site)
Height: 10-40cm
Leaf area index (LAI): max. 4 m2 m-2
Soil
Geology: Underlying material built by moraines from the Val Bever glacier and by limestone debris from the steep valley slopesthat overlie the glacial formation.