Registration open until 26 February 2023
From 21 to 23 March 2023, the Virtual Alpine Observatory (VAO) will host an international symposium to present its latest findings and encourage networking activities. The symposium will be held in Grainau, Germany, and will include presentations about new results from science and technology as well as about new project initiatives.
The special focus of the symposium will be on the following topics:
I. Atmospheric and climatic variability
Understanding the coupling mechanisms among atmosphere, clouds and land surface and their changes in view of impact on the greenhouse effect / Understanding the impact of the Alps (mountains) on atmospheric dynamics in the middle atmosphere (10-100 km height) / Understanding if there is an impact of climate change on the characteristics of cosmic radiation and environmental radioactivity in the atmosphere / Monitoring and understanding of the contamination of the Alps / Impact of meteorological extremes in the Alps and surrounding regions on natural hazards
II. Climate impact on Alpine environment, hazards and risks
Understanding the dynamics of the Alpine vegetation in response to climate (change) / Interrelation of the environment with seismic activity
III. Alpine water cycle
Understanding the Alps as a water tower for the pre-Alpine regions under climate change conditions
IV. Environment and human health
Understanding the impact of pollutants, radiation and meteorological stress on human health
V. Improving the research infrastructure
Specific questions concerning the maintenance of buildings/locations located on permafrost / Improving the validation of satellite-based measurements through combined in-situ and remote sensing measurements
3-4 October 2022, Online conference
In the context of the EO Science for Society Programme Element, the European Space Agency is organising ATMOS-2021, a conference on the topical theme atmosphere: http://atmos2021.esa.int/.
Grainau, 82491/Germany from March 22nd to 24th, 2022 - CANCELLED
The fifth Symposium of the Virtual Alpine Observatory (VAO) took place from 3 to 6 February 2020 on the site of the Swiss partner HFSJG (High Altitude Research Stations Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat) in Bern. In about 60 lectures and presentations, the scientific and technological progress was presented to the approximately 100 participants.
The symposium was opened by Prof Dr Markus Leuenberger as representative of the Uni Bern. Key notes were given by Prof Dr Christian Leumann, Rector University of Bern, Dr Christian Barth, Director General of the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection, Germany, Christoph Neuhaus, State Councillor of the Canton of Berne,
Dr Paul Steffen, Vice Director of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Dr Petr Blížkovský, Secretary General Committee of the Regions and Prof Michael Bittner, VAO Coordinator and Chair of the VAO Board.
A video welcome note was given by André Jol, Head of the Adaptation and LULUCF Division, European Environment Agency. As observers of the VAO spoke Prof Dr Michael Rast, European Space Agency and Dr Marianne Elmi, Vice General Secretary of the Alpine Convention.
The "Virtual Alpine Observatory" was founded in 2012 as a network of European high-altitude research stations in the Alps and similar mountain regions. Observatories from currently ten countries are now represented in the network. Besides Germany, these are France, Georgia, Italy, Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Slovenia;
The VAO is also part of the European Alpine Convention, whose objectives it supports, and will in future also serve as an important instrument for adapting and implementing the European Alpine Strategy (EUSALP).
Vienna | Austria | 3–8 May 2020 The EGU General Assembly 2020 will bring together geoscientists from all over the world to one meeting covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary and space sciences. The EGU aims to provide a forum where scientists, especially early career researchers, can present their work and discuss their ideas with experts in all fields of geoscience. The EGU is looking forward to cordially welcoming you in Vienna. Abstract submission deadline: 15 January 2020, 13:00 CET).
On 7 June 2019, the VAO board met in Slovenia / Vipava. Among other things, setting up an EGTC (European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation), calls for tenders from the EU (Horizon 2020) and ESA calls (EO4Alps) were discussed as well as the VAO symposium in February 2020.
As the newest observer, the Alpine Convention was represented at the meeting to discuss further cooperation, ESA took part via phone.
The next meeting will take place at the end of the year, presumably in Austria/Salzburg.
Group foto VAO board meeting in Slovenia
On 29.01.2019, the VAO board met in Switzerland / Bern to discuss current topics and to further strengthen international cooperation in the VAO. Among other things, it discussed the opportunities that setting up an EGTC (European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation) could offer for the VAO, as well as future calls for tenders from the EU (Horizon 2020) and the ESA (EO4Alps), for which joint project proposals are planned.
Seven of the meanwhile nine VAO partner countries were represented at the meeting, as well as ESA, which has been participating in the VAO as observer since 2018.
The next meeting will take place on 7 June, 2019 in Slovenia.
Group photo VAO board meeting on 29 January 2019
European Conference for Applied Meteorology and Climatology 2018, 3–7 September 2018, Budapest, Hungary
Call for abstracts: Climate change in mountainous areas
As in the past 3 years, the (now already fourth) Symposium of the Virtual Alpine Observatory (VAO) took place in the spring of this year, this time from 13 to 15 March 2018 on the site of the French partner OSUG (Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble) in Grenoble. In about 70 lectures and presentations the scientific and technological progress was presented to the approximately 100 participants. In addition, there were several splintermeetings on topics such as satellite validation or aerosols in order to initiate future joint, cross-border projects in this context.
The symposium was opened by Dr Michel Dietrich as representative of the OSUG. Key notes were given by Prof Eric Saint-Aman, Vice-president of the University of Grenoble, Mr. Pierre Meriaux, City Hall Grenoble, Dr Jiri Burianek, Secretary-General of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Prof Michael Rast, Director of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Christian Barth, Administrative Chief of the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection. All emphasized the importance of the VAO as a scientific institution for the study of climate change and its consequences across national borders.
Mountain regions are particularly predestined for such investigations. Bavaria has been supporting the VAO for several years. ESA is recently Observer of the VAO. The CoR also backed the VAO. An intensive cooperation is already planned.
The "Virtual Alpine Observatory" was founded in 2012 as a network of European high-altitude research stations in the Alps and similar montane regions. Observatories from eight countries are now represented in the network. Besides Germany, these are France, Georgia, Italy, Norway, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia; Institutions from other countries, eg. Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland have expressed interest. Scientific questions on the atmosphere, biosphere, hydro- and cryosphere and possible health effects of environmental influences can be answered through the cross-border and interdisciplinary bundling of forces in a substantive depth, which becomes possible only through this cooperation. Moreover, the VAO is also part of the European Alpine Convention, whose objectives it supports, and will in future also serve as an important instrument for adapting and implementing the European Alpine Strategy (EUSALP).
more informationBirgit Einhellinger
Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection
Rosenkavalierplatz 2, 81925 Munich - Germany
Tel. +49 89 9214-3404
Mail to: info@vao.bayern.de
VAO-Homepage: www.vao.bayern.de
More than 100 representatives from politics, business and research accepted the invitation of the Bavarian State Minister Ulrike Scharf and met on June 29, 2017 at the Bavarian Representation in Brussels. Theme of the event was "Climate change - Identify and act on risks". In addition to Ulrike Scharf, the Bavarian State Minister for Environment and Consumer Protection, key note speeches have also been given by Dr Andrea Tilche, European Commission Directorate General for Research and Innovation, Head of Unit Climate Action and Earth Observation, and Dr Jiří Buriánek, Secretary General of the Committee of the Regions. Dr Lützenkirchen, Siemens Munich and Mr. Schiansky, Siemens environmental insurance, were discussing the impact of climate change on industrial or commercial enterprises as well as their need for resilient climate data as a basis for developing necessary climate adaptation strategies. Both economic and political representatives have emphasized the need to address the urgent scientific and societal questions about global climate change with joint, cross-border research. Prof Dr Michael Bittner, Head of Department German Aerospace Center (DLR) German Remote Sensing Data Center Atmosphere Oberpfaffenhofen and Chairman of the VAO Board presented the strategy of the "Virtual Alps Observatory" (VAO) to the public for the very first time. The climate data delivered by VAO research can form the basis for political and economic decisions. The paper presents the strategic orientation of the VAO for the next 10 years and the most important upcoming VAO climate research topics.
Dr Hürkamp, Helmholtz Zentrum München, presented a specific VAO project from the practice: Scientists from UFS on the Zugspitze, ZAMG on the Sonnblick in Austria and HJGF on the Jungfraujoch in Switzerland are investigating the influence of climate change on the water balance.
Approx. 100 guests attended the event at the Bavarian Representation in Brussels
All speakers from left to right: Moderator Silke Wettach, Dr Kerstin Hürkamp, Dr Andrea Tilche, Ulrike Scharf MdL, Dr Jiří Buriánek, Prof Dr Bittner, Dr Lützenkirchen and Martin SchianskyA
Guests during the standing reception
Prof Dr Bittner (on the right) hands over a VAO strategy paper (from the left to the right) to Dr Andrea Tilche, to Ulrike Scharf MdL and Dr Jiří Buriánek
Moderator Silke Wettach in discussion with the representatives from business and insurance, Dr Lützenkirchen and Martin Schiansky.
The audience