Mountain ecosystems in EC-01-C2

PoCAntonello Provenzale

(Presented by Yubao Qiu, GEO Secretariat)

ISRSE35(Beijing International Convention Center)

23 April, 2013

Issues:

changes in the mountain environment

changes in population dynamics of key species

changes in ecosystem structure:species distribution

phenology

Ev-K2-CNR Projects

Stations at High Altitude for Research on EnvironmentStations at High Altitude for Research on Environment

Mt. Cimone Mt. Cimone (2165m, Italy)(2165m, Italy)

NCO-P (5079m, NCO-P (5079m, Nepal)Nepal)

Mt. RwenzoriMt. Rwenzori(4700 m, Uganda(4700 m, Uganda))

Urdukas Pakistan Urdukas Pakistan 3.926 m3.926 m

With its stations in Europe, Asia and Africa, today SHARESHARE represents

Italy’s expert contribution to

international integrated scientific projects on the

climate and environment, such as:

UNEP-ABC, WMO-GAW, GEO,

NASA-AERONET, ILTER, ACTRIS.

Chacaltaya (Andes) Bolivia S.America Chacaltaja GAW-WMO Station

Ozone monitoring 3,280

Pyramid

(5,050 m)

Namche

(3,560 m)

Lukla

(2,660 m)

Periche

(3,560 m)

South Col

(7,986 m)

NCOP-P

(5,079 m)

Kala Patthar

(5,550 m)

Changri Nup

(5,750 m)

Syanboche

(3,900 m)

Khumbu valley: 8 stations

PILOT ProjectsPILOT Projects The Nepal Climate Observatory - PyramidNepal Climate Observatory - Pyramid (Nepal, 27.95N, 86.82E, 5079 m a.s.l.) has been installed in February 2006 in the high Khumbu Valley, above the timber line in a rocky and mossy environment not far from the base camp area of Mt. Everest. The Observatory is running in the framework of the Atmospheric Brown Clouds Project (ABC) of UNEPAtmospheric Brown Clouds Project (ABC) of UNEP, and is part of AERONET network and WMO-GAWAERONET network and WMO-GAW program. Since 2010 NCO-P is a global GAW NCO-P is a global GAW stationstation. The instrument set-up was defined in accordance with “ABC” Project standards (Ramanathan et al., 2006)

da

PILOT ProjectsPILOT Projects PILOT ProjectsPILOT Projects

The power needed to carry out the experimental activity (~ 3 kW) is provided by 96 photovoltaic panels with 120 electric storage cells

Lat. N 27°57' Lon. E 86°48’ Altitude: 5079 m asl

PILOT ProjectsPILOT Projects

The NCO-Pyramid performs in-situ the following continuous measurements:

• Aerosol Number Concentration and Size Distribution (from 10nm to 32µm)• Absorption coefficient (Black Carbon Concentration)• Total and Back Scattering Coefficient• Aerosol Optical Depth• Surface Ozone Concentrations• Meteorological Parameters (Air temperature, Atmospheric pressure, Relative humidity, Wind speed and direction, Precipitation)• Greenhouses Gas Concentration (CFC, HFC, HCFC,...; in flask)• Chemical Characterization (organic and inorganic) of Aerosol Particles (high volume sampling on quartz filters)

PILOT ProjectsPILOT Projects PILOT ProjectsPILOT Projects PILOT ProjectsPILOT Projects

SHARE - PAPRIKA project “Cryospheric responses to anthropogenic pressures

in the Hindu Kush – Karakoram – Himalaya: impacts on water resources and availability.”

focus on the Baltoro region, Pakistan.

Precipitation and snow data from gridded datasets, reanalyses and climate models

E. Palazzi, J. von Hardenberg, A. Provenzale, JGR Atmospheres 2013

Importance of snow cover for mountain ecosystems:

examples from the Italian Alps

Population dynamics of Alpine ibex in the Gran Paradiso National Park

A term density*snow explains about 44% of the variance

Adult survival and average snow depth Nov-May

Before 1985, a term density*snow explains up to 80% of the variance

Kid survival behaves differently

Foto: Archivio PNGP

Snow and Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in the Veglia-Devero natural park

Ptarmigan counts (1996-2012)

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Dependence on snowmelt and snow cover start dates

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Effects of climate change (snow cover reduction)on rock ptarmigan

Thanks