Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

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

Zuwachsmuster einer sibirischen Lärche.

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.

Artenreiche Fromentalwiese. Bild: Peter Longatti, WSL

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.

Auf einer felsdurchzogenen, teils noch schneebedeckten Hochebene wächst im Vordergrund eine Gruppe Soldanella pusilla. Die kleinen Alpenglöckchen haben lila Blütenkelche, die nach unten geöffnet sind.

Mountain Ecosystems

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

Der Blick folgt dem Illgraben von unten Richtung der Murgangbeobachtungsstation. Während der Bach unten sehr niedrig ist, wälzt sich von oben der Murgang mit beigem Gesteinsmaterial auf den Beobachtenden zu.

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.

Blockgletscher oberhalb der Alp Flix. Der Blockgletscher selbst sieht aus wie eine Geröllhalde. Allerdings wird das Gestein durch die Vergletscherung so befestigt, dass die Neigungswinkel viel steiler sind als bei lockerem, frei liegendem Geröll. Der grau-beige Blockgletscher ist links und rechts von grünen Hängen eingerahmt.

Extreme events and natural hazards

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

Das Bild zeigt ein alpines Skigebiet in herbstlichen Farben. Nur rund um die Schneelanzen ist der Boden bereits weiss und lässt den Verlauf der Pistenlinie erahnen.

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.

Ein Forscher lehnt auf einem Felsblock hoch über einem Stausee und bedient ein Messgerät.

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.

Ein ausgetrocknetes Bachbett, umsäumt von Wald zeugt vom Hitzesommer.

Extremes

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

Eine Bergwiese wird bewässert. Am Rand der Wiese stehen Bäume, deren Laub schon Herbstfärbung zeigt.

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.

Contact

Projects

Water retention on agricultural fields as a drought mitigation measure: hydrological effect of Keyline systems

In this project, the effectiveness of a keyline system is being investigated with regard to its water retention in drought situations. For this purpose, comprehensive (drone-based and in-situ) soil moisture measurements will be carried out on an agricultural plot.

GNSS measurements in Pfynwald

Microwave signals from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), measured by ground-based receivers, are used to continuously monitor changes in forest canopy water content across multiple locations. These GNSS-derived signals serve as valuable reference data for the development and validation of satellite-based products.

Access to Deep soil water - a critical tree trait for Drought stress release?

DeepDrought examines how deep root water uptake helps plants mitigate drought, especially as deep soil droughts increase with climate change. Using SVAT models, the project analyzes deep soil water availability and aligns TWD and WUE as drought stress measures to assess plant responses.

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