WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF

Switzerland and climate change

Climate change does not spare Switzerland - on the contrary. At WSL and SLF we are investigating the influence of a changing climate on ecosystems, especially on forests, on biodiversity, on natural hazards and on water resources, including snow and ice. We document the climatic alterations and explore solutions to minimise the risks of climate change.

Climate reconstruction and documentation

Growth pattern of a Siberian larch tree. (Photo: WSL)

Tree rings and growth

Researchers reconstruct the climate of the past using the annual rings of trees and many other methods of analysis.

Polar ice sheets

We study polar snow and how it "ages". These findings help to reconstruct past climate and improve forecasts.

Auf einem schneebedeckten Hang am Matterhorn sind zwei Betonrohre senkrecht in den Schnee und den darunterliegenden Permafrost gegraben. Ihre Metalldeckel sind mit grossen Steinen beschwert, die beiden Rohre sind mit einer losen Leine verbunden. Im Hintergrund der Bohrlöcher erstreckt sich ein Gletscherabbruch und dahinter eine schroffe Felswand.

Permafrost

The SLF permafrost monitoring network provides information on the condition of permafrost soils and is part of the PERMOS monitoring network.

Glaciers

The Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network GLAMOS documents and monitors long-term glacier changes in the Swiss Alps.

Impacts of climate change

Forests and climate change

We are investigating how the Swiss forest is responding to climate change and how forest services can be maintained.

Protection forest

Climate change can impair the protective function of mountain forests. That is why we are monitoring their development in the long term.

Biodiversity and climate change

Animals, plants and fungi react to climate change. We are investigating how the distribution of biodiversity is altered as a result.

The snowbell (Soldanella pusilla). Image: Veronika Stöckli

Mountain Ecosystems

We study mountain ecosystems to see how strongly they respond to climate change or new forms of land use.

Image: Lambert Zufferey

Climate change and alpine mass movements

In the CCAMM research programme, we are investigating how climate change affects the movement of rocks and debris in the mountains.

Extreme events and natural hazards

The CERC research centre studies climate change, extreme events and natural hazards in alpine regions.

Snow and climate change

More frequent rainfall instead of snowfall and earlier snowmelt reduce the duration of snow cover and maximum snow depths.

Mountain glaciers in climate change

Glacier melting has implications for hydropower, water availability and potential natural disasters.

Water resources

We investigate hydrological and climatological issues, especially the relationship between snow, runoff, climate and natural hazards.

Vorbereitet auf die Klimawandelfolgen: Die Bauern bauen trockenheitsresistente Feldfrüchte wie Quinoa an, Solaranlagen auf den Dächern und Windturbinen auf den Hügeln produzieren Energie. Grosse Bäume kühlen die Siedlung. (Bild: Ikonaut GmbH)

Future landscapes

We can still have a say in how climate change will alter Switzerland's landscapes. Our project shows possible future scenarios.

Adaptation to climate change

Trees for the future

We are using test plantings to investigate which tree species will grow well in the Swiss forest under the climatic conditions in 50 years' time.

Extremes

Together with practitioners, the "Extremes" initiative develops tools and decision-making aids for dealing with future extreme events.

Irrigation in the Südtirol. Image: Marc Zebisch

Challenges for society

We are studying how the people, politics and the economy can deal with the consequences of climate change, such as more frequent storms, heat or drought.

Wie wird sich die Landschaft im KLimawandel verändern? Im Bild ein Bauernhof inmitten Landwirtschaftsland und Wald. (Bild: M. Bolliger)

Landscape and climate change

We initiate and support e.g. transformative social processes towards sustainable living and development in climate-resilient landscapes.

Climate change mitigation

Forest and CO2

We are researching how and where intensive wood use and increased carbon uptake by forests is possible.

Carbon in forest soils

Soils can store large amounts of CO2. We are investigating how soils, forests and the carbon cycle influence each other.

Renaturierung im Meienstossmoos

Climate protection through raised bog conservation

max.moor - CO2 compensation through raised bog restoration in Switzerland.

Drei Windräder in einer hügeligen Landschaft.

Energy and landscape

The Federal Government's Energy Strategy 2050 envisages increased use of renewable energies. We identify possible consequences for the landscape.

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Projects