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Cofunded by the European Union

Maturity Level : 
A.4. Individual Rls and Obs (regional or single-site) with established networking links
RI Acronym : 
GKS
Institution/Coordinating Institution : 
University of Innsbruck, Institute of Ecology
Other partners : 
LTER-Austria network partners
Country : 
Austria
Current Status : 
Active
Location : 
Innrain 52, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
RI Type : 
Distributed RI (Central Hub and interlinked National Nodes RI)
Level of Access : 
Other
((Austrian RI database))
Cost of Access : 
Other
((Please contact the responsible person.))
Domains and thematic area : 
Ecosystems
Type of variables provided : 
Hydrological variables - Water quality variables - Biological and ecological variables - Meteorological and climatic variables
Frequency of Measurements : 
Continuous Monitoring (Real-time, 10-min. period, hourly, every few hours, daily etc.) - Periodic Sampling (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.)
Sustainability of funding : 
Yes
Type of funding : 
National;Own resources
Governance Description : 
National organizational umbrella guidelines of LTER Austria

Lake Gossenkölle is a 1.6-hectare high-altitude lake at 2,416 meters above sea level, situated above the Kühtai Saddle in the Stubai Alps. Data has been collected at this lake since 1975, after the original research station at Lake Finstertal was relocated due to a reservoir project. From 1975 to 2014, the lake was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Located directly on the lake is a research station, which underwent extensive renovations in 1994. It is equipped with electricity and water and includes laboratory workstations, sleeping accommodations for six people, a kitchen, sanitary facilities, a sauna, and a storage room. A weather station with online data transmission is mounted on the roof. A measuring buoy in the lake monitors parameters such as temperature, pH value, oxygen content, and conductivity during the ice-free months. Additional equipment includes a boat and diving gear for two people. Current scientific investigations at Lake Gossenkölle are focusing on various groups of aquatic organisms, such as bacteria, flagellates, and copepods. Atmospheric deposition and its influence on the lake are also being studied. Recent research has investigated the presence of viruses in the lake. Different groups of snow algae are being studied on the snow-covered areas surrounding the lake. In addition to specific research, the research station also conducts monitoring programs. It is an LTER (Long-Term Ecosystem Research) site of the LTSER platform Tyrolean Alps and LTER Austria, and since 2015 a site of GLEON (Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network). It also serves as a training site for school and university students.

Part A: Research Infrastructures / Observatories

Other RI

The Water4All Partnership - Water Security for the Planet - is a funding programme for scientific research in freshwater. It aims to tackle water challenges to face climate change, help to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and boost the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

It is co-funded by the European Union within the frame of the Horizon Europe programme (a key funding programme for research and innovation). The Partnership duration is for seven years from 2022.

The Water4All objective is to enable water security at a large scale and in the long term. Its goal is also to tackle water issues in a holistic frame. 

All forms of life on earth need water. All human activities operate with this resource. Water is part of our everyday life. It is also integrated within urban and countryside landscapes. It is one of the most valuable elements we share with plants and animals.

These simple facts must be kept in mind to understand the Water4All ambition.

This resource is weakened in many places due to climate changes, and human habits. We know that we can improve the way we use water. Everyone has a role to play and especially the scientific research community.

Scientific research is the heart of the Partnership as It is a powerful tool to improve knowledge on preserving, restoring, and managing this essential resource. 

International cooperation is also needed as water has no borders on Earth and runs from one country to another.

Water4All brings together a broad and cohesive group of 90 partners from 33 countries in the European Union and beyond. This consortium gathers partners from the whole water Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) chain.