GLORIA-EUROPE: The European dimension of the global observation research initiative in alpine environments - a contribution to GTOS

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 00.0184-2

Key words (English)

Environmental Protection; Measurement Methods; Standards

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: EVK2-2000-00522

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.4a.2 Global change, climate and biodiversity

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
ETH Zürich
Departement Umweltwissenschaften
Institut für Terrestrische Oekosysteme

Abstract (English)

The project is proposed to establish an urgently required international network of long-term observation settings to detect climate change-induced effects on alpine mountain ecosystems (i.e. from the tree line upwards). Alpine environments are particularly appropriate for such a network, due to their presence in all major life zones of Europe and due to their high vulnerability and sensitivity to climatic changes. The project aims to implement a particularly cost-effective in-situ observation of plant biodiversity and vegetation patterns at 72 sites in 18Target Regions. This includes the development, evaluation and application of standardised observation tools and the assessment of cost-effective options for the long-term operation.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 00.0184-2