Bioclimatology

Göttinger Wald (Lower Saxony, Germany)



Location

Location Temperature (annual mean) Precipitation (annual) Elevation a.s.l. Ecosystem
Lower Saxony 7.1 °C 881 mm 414 m Unmanaged mixed beech forest

The Göttinger Wald measurement station is located southeast of Göttingen (Lower Saxony) in a protected landscape area. The Göttinger Wald is a near-natural beech forest on limestone. The stand is almost purely composed of European beech (Fagus sylvatica), with a small proportion of common ash (Fraxinus excelsior), maple (Acer sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), and elm (Ulmus sp.). The herb layer is species-rich and dominated in particular by woodruff (Galium odoratum), wild garlic (Allium ursinum), and dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis). The beeches reach heights of up to 34 m, with an average age of about 130–140 years.

Since 20105, CO2, water, and energy fluxes have been measured – with interruptions - in the Göttinger Wald using the eddy covariance method. For this purpose, a combined open-path gas analyzer and ultrasonic anemometer (Campbell Scientific IRGASON) has been installed at a height of 44 meters. In addition to the measurements carried out by the Department of Bioclimatology, the Göttinger Wald is also a permanent soil monitoring site as well as a Level II monitoring plot (intensive forest environmental monitoring) of ICP Forests. The station is mainly used for teaching purposes.


Measurement Measurement Height Data Frequency (Minutes) Measurement Period
Momentum 44 m 302020 - Present
Sensible and Latent Heat Flux 44 m 302020 - Present
Ecosystem CO₂ Exchange 44 m 302020 - Present
Water Vapor & Carbon Dioxide Concentration 44 m 302020 - Present
Incoming & Outgoing Shortwave Radiation 43 m 102020 - Present
Incoming & Outgoing Longwave Radiation 43 m 102020 - Present
Incoming Diffuse Radiation 44 m 102020 - Present
Incoming & Outgoing Photosynthetically Active Radiation 43 m 102024 - Present
Precipitation 44 m 102020 - Present
Air Pressure 43 m 102020 - Present
Air Temperature 44 m, 2 m 102020 - Present (partly since 2023)
Relative Humidity 44 m, 2 m 102020 - Present (partly since 2023)
Wind Speed 44 m 102020 - Present
Wind Direction 43 m 102020 - Present
Throughfall (Precipitation below Canopy) 1 m 102020 - Present
Soil Temperature (3 Profiles) -0.05 m, -0.15 m, -0.3 m 102020 - Present
Soil Moisture (3 Profiles) -0.05 m, -0.15 m, -0.3 m 102020 - Present
Soil Matric Potential (3 Profiles) -0.15 m, -0.25 m, -0.45 m 102020 - Present


  • Kirfel K, Heinze S, Hertel D, Leuschner C (2019). Effects of bedrock type and soil chemistry on the fine roots of European beech – A study on the belowground plasticity of trees. Forest Ecology and Management 444(2019), 256-268. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.04.022
  • Meesenburg H, Eichhorn J, Meiwes K. J. (2009). Atmospheric Deposition and Canopy Interactions. In R. Brumme & P. K. Khanna (Eds.), Functioning and Management of European Beech Ecosystems (Vol. 208, pp. 265–302). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/b82392_16
  • Panferov O, Kreilein H, Meesenburg H, Eichhorn J, Gravenhorst G (2009). Climatic Conditions at Three Beech Forest Sites in Central Germany. In Brumme R, Khanna P (Eds.), Functioning and Management of European Beech Ecosystems 208, 13-32. Springer. doi: 10.1007/b82392_3
  • Meesenburg H, Meiwes K, Fortmann H, Scheler B, Eichhorn J (2008). Nährstoffhaushalt von Buchenbeständen auf Muschelkalk, Basalt und Buntsandstein. In NW-FVA (Eds.), Ergebnisse angewandter Forschung zur Buche, 1-17. Universitätsverlag Göttingen.
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