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February 12th was Kick Off day for the new 3-year project on Alpine climate-induced natural hazards, called AlpSenseAdapt. AlpSenseAdapt focuses on the analysis of process cascades in high mountain regions and integrates the findings into physically based predictive models. Focus lies on the interfaces of cryospheric, hydrospheric, geochemical, geomorphological, and biological processes. Through interdisciplinary collaboration across various fields of expertise, the project contributes to improved management and enhanced safety in the region. This cooperative research project is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection (STMUV) and includes VAO members. The project strategically supports the preparations of a Special Research Area of the German Research Foundation. In this context, the monitoring data of the VAO network are also to be utilized more extensively, partnerships strengthened, and the profile of the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus on the Zugspitze further developed. AlpSenseAdapt is lead by the TUM Chair of Landslide research in cooperation with the LMU GeoBio Center, 3DRealityMaps, the PH Burgenland, the Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften Glaciology, the TUM Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, the TUM Chair of Engineering Geodesy, and the TUM Chair of Ecosystem dynamics and forest management in mountain landscapes with Nationalpark Berchtesgaden. The project is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection (STMUV).
Verena Stammberger (VAO ClimResponse scientist) is featured on the cover of TUM Magazine (left), highlighting the work of the TUM Chair of Landslide Research working group, led by VAO coordinator Prof. Krautblatter, at the VAO Observatory "Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus" on the Zugspitze. Read here the full article.
The 7th VAO Symposium in Kaprun was a complete success with participants from 7 countries all represented in the Virtual Alpine Observatory. Over 70 scientists and stakeholders all across the Alps met at in the castle of Kaprun to present their most recent research, discuss and establish new contacts for future collaborations. The symposium emphasized on the productive interdisciplinary collaboration among those working in the Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Relief, and Lithosphere fields by hosting distinguished keynote speakers from various fields all focusing on mountain research in a changing climate. Expert panel discussions as well as collaborative workshops offered space for representatives from politics, science and economy to foster inter- and transdisciplinary exchange. The organizing team thanks all keynote speakers, moderators and participants for three interesting and productive days. We are looking forward to the next VAO Symposium in 2027!
From 2nd to 4th April 2025 the VAO Symposium facilitates in Kaprun/ Austria the exchange of the latest research findings and future collaborative research pursuits among members and interested individuals. The symposium emphasizes productive interdisciplinary collaboration among those working in the Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Relief, and Lithosphere fields. The outcomes of the symposium will guide the network's direction and impact in the coming years. For more information and the program program here.
This year, the VAO was represented at the EGU in Vienna by Michael Krautblatter in the general session on permafrost. In a 10-minute talk titled „The Virtual Alpine Observatory (VAO) acting to better observe, understand, forecast and react to climate change in a combined Network of European High-Altitude Research Stations” the Network was presented and its benefits as well as the future goals explained.
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-22269
On March 19, 2024, the 10th VAO board meeting took place in the city of Innsbruck. It was hosted in the premises of the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention which is in the same building as the famous ‘Goldene Dachl’. Remarkable highlights on the agenda were three new research institutions that were welcomed to the Virtual Alpine Observatory. With the two brand new VAO members GEORESEARCH Kitzsteinhorn and the BAdW "High Altitude Research Lab Vernagtferner", VAO has now gained two more important research partners in Austria in addition to the Sonnblick Observatory. As the newest associate member, the "Aragats Space Environmental Center" in Armenia will strengthen cooperation with Eastern European research institutions within the VAO.
Once again, the European Committee of the Regions, represented by Dr. Christian Gsodam, who has accompanied and supported the VAO for many years on the long road to the VAO EGTC, provided the VAO with expert advice on the subject of the "European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation", or EGTC for short.
It was also a great honor to have Secretary General Alenka Smerkolj in attendance, whom we would like to thank, together with her team from the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention, not only for her hospitality, but also for the lively discussions on shaping further cooperation. The Alpine Convention has been a VAO Observer since 2018.
The VAO presented itself at the symposium on "Rapid adaptation in a changing climate and environment (RACE): coupled geo-, bio- and hydrosystems” on Feb. 23rd 2024. The program included talks by renomated professors of the TUM to explore future collaborations directed at joint observation, modelling, predictons and measures in coupled geo-, bio- and hydrosystems in the Alpine/Pre-Alpine environments. The Novelty of a combined proposal lies in the complete system approach, anticipating the required speed of change, and addressing the anticipation of nonlinear and non-stationary system transition. The VAO introduced its work to potential partners in this process.
The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) is striving to maximize the use of Copernicus data from the European Earth observation program for German users such as authorities, companies, science and the public. For this reason, the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.) has approved funding for projects in the area of "Development and implementation preparation of Copernicus services for public use in Germany". The VAO partner TU München under the umbrella of Prof. Dr. Michael Krautblatter and Dr. Sabine Kraushaar submitted the SNOWCOP project in cooperation with the Weilheim Water Management Office. The project aims to improve runoff modelling and flood forecasting by& recording and characterizing the snow cover using Copernicus data.
On October 26, 2023, the 9th VAO board meeting took place in the rooms of the Technical University of Munich under the leadership of the new coordinator, Prof. Dr. Michael Krautblatter. During the meeting, the "International Space Science Institute" and the "A. I. Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory Foundation", research institutions from Slovakia and Armenia, were accepted as associated partners in the research network. VAO also includes Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Norway, Slovenia and Switzerland. In addition, the "International Space Science Institute (ISSI)" was welcomed as a new "observer". ISSI now supports VAO in this capacity alongside the Alpine Convention and the European Space Agency (ESA). We are very happy about the extension of our network and the future cooperation with new and old VAO members!
On October 11, 2023, the INTERREG Programme BAY-AUT for the funding period 2014 – 2020 was concluded with a closing event. Selected projects of the programme were shown to give an overview of some of the funded topics. At the same time, information about the new funding period 2021 – 2027 was presented. We used this meeting to gain some insights into past and current INTERREG projects and cooperation opportunities as well as networking with fellow stakeholders.
