Moosbeere: Alpine sensor network

The Moosbeere sensor network comprises of nine permanent CRNS sites in Germany and Austria: Weißsee in the Kaunertal valley (AT), Dresdner Hütte in the Stubaital valley (AT), Hohe Mut close to Obergurgl, (AT), Leutasch (AT), Zugspitze/Schneefernerhaus (DE), Graswang (DE), Esterberg close to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (DE), Achele close to Saulgrub (DE) und Geigersau close to Böbing (DE).

The sites are located between the main chain to the foothills of the alps and cover montane, subalpine and alpine vegetation zones. The wide range of elevation of the CRNS sites enables us to compare CRNS signals with regard to increasing radiation, different snow fall patterns and topographic effects. Additionally, long-term measurements at selected sites yield observations of changing environmental factors. The long term observatories include Weißsee (measuring since 2014), the Zugspitze (since 2015), Achele, Esterberg and Graswand (since 2017) and Leutasch (since 2018 part of the sensor network). The bavarian stations operated by the KIT are part to the Tereno Pre-Alpine Observatory. Measurements at the sites Hohe Mut close to Obergurgl (part of the LTER site Obergurgl) and at the Zugspitze/Schneefernerhaus (part of the Virtual Alpine Observatory – VAO) complement existing sensor networks for the exploration of high-altitude environments.