We analysed microplastic and fibers in snow samples from ice floes in the Fram Strait (2016/17) and from Spitsbergen, Helgoland, Bremen, Bavaria and the Swiss Alps (2018) to assess the role of atmospheric transport of microplastic to the North. Identification of particles was carried out without pre-treatment of samples. MPs were identified by Fourier-Transform Infrared Imaging in 20 of 21 samples. The MP concentration of Arctic was significantly lower (0-14.4 × 103 N L-1) than European snow (0.19-154 × 103 N L-1) but still substantial. Polymer composition varied strongly, but varnish, rubber, polyethylene and polyamide dominated overall. Most particles were in the smallest size range with no saturation, implying that there are yet smaller particles beyond the current detection limit of 11 µm. All samples contained fibers but the proportion of microplastic fibers is uncertain as fibers could not be analysed with the current methodology.
High mountains comprise cold climate wilderness areas in all major life zones of Europe. Hence they provide a unique opportunity to compare climate change effects along the principal climatic gradients: a) in altitude, b) in latitude and longitude. GLORIA-EUROPE establishes a network of 18 target regions with a total of 72 monitoring sites distributed over all life zones of the continent. The network will act as an early warning system by providing a comparative data basis for a) detecting long-term changes of biodiversity and habitat stability and b) drawing data-based scenarios on the direction in which these changes may go.
The project CCglinCH is composed of two different studies which both aim in assessing future run-off and hydrology for large catchments of the Swiss Alps. Both studies are operationally led by WSL (Birmensdorf) and were funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Environment (FOEN, in german: BAfU) and the electricity company of the Valais (Forces Motrices Valaisannes, FMV). The FOEN project is called Natürlicher Wasserhaushalt der Schweiz und ihrere bedeutendsten Grosseinzugsgebiete (WHH-CH), while the FMV study is called Sektorielle Studie zum Einfluss der Klimaänderung auf die Wasserkraftnutzung im Kanton Wallis. The two projects are different in the considered regional coverage (entire Switzerland vs. Valais), and the level of detail that will be considered in the modelling approach. The Dept. of Geography is responsible for the subproject GLAC in the FOEN project and module B in the FMV project. The two major steps of methodological development in the project CCglinCH include: - calculate maps of future glacier extent (based on Paul et al., 2007) that can be used as an input in the hydrological model PREVAH - obtain glacier thickness distribution for all Swiss glaciers using a GIS modelling approach (based on the parameterizations by Haeberli and Hoelzle, 1995).