Overview

  • Location: Spain; 42.73°N, 0.42°W
  • Operational Management: Pyrenean Institute of Ecology-CSIC
  • Purpose/Scientific Focus: Snow hydrology, snow-ecology interactions, site for testing meteorological and snow measurement techniques and sensors.   

Characteristics

  • Location (Physiographic Region): Central Spanish Pyrenees, headwater of Gállego River, near the Spain–France border. 
  • Area: 0.33 km2 
  • Elevation: Min. 2,056 m to Max. 2,340 m  
  • Description (Physical–Ecological–Climatic Characteristics): Small subalpine catchment dominated by alpine meadows and small bare ground zones. Gentle slopes and lithology dominated by slates and sandstones with very reduced role of groundwater.
  • Drainage/River System: Gállego River, which is one of the main tributaries of the Ebro River.
  • Site History/Historical Context: It was created in 1986 with meteorological information of varying quality since 1996. Much better information after 2011 but reliable precipitation and runoff data is still an issue.
  • Main Land Cover(s): Subalpine meadows.
  • Lithology/Soils: Sandstones and slates.
  • Mean Annual Temperature: 3°C
  • Mean Total Annual Precipitation: 2000 mm
  • Snow Characteristics: Deep snowpack mostly in isothermal conditions. 
  • Years of Data: 12 (the most reliable) 

Stations & Observations

Observational Stations and Sites

Type Station Name Latitude Longitude Elevation Notes/Details
Meteorological Izas 42.74268°N 0.41912°W 2113 m  Temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation, broadband albedometer, ultrasonic snowdepth, ground heat flux, soil temperature
Hydrometric Izas °N °W 2056 m Water level, water temperature and electric conductivity

Field Observation Campaigns and Other Measurements

Measurement Instrument Description Spatial/Temporal Resolution and Coverage Notes/Details
Terrestrial Laser Scanner Riegl LPM 321 7 per snow season 2012-2018
UAV Sensors Ebee, Inspire 300 7 per snow season 2019-2023
Time-lapse Photographs Campbel 1mpx 3 daily, 2010-2023

Data Availability

Geospatial Data

Elevation
Landcover and Soils Soil and vegetation maps avaialble
Stream/River Network
Basin Delineation/Shapefile Basin shapefile is available

Notes

  • very rich catalog of snow maps from TLS and UAV

Observational Data Availability 

Modelling Activities

The CRHM model has been applied several times to investigate snow processes and their sensitivity to environmental change.

Contact & Further Information

Additional Information (Key Papers) Contacts
  • Dr. Juan Ignacio López Moreno, Pyrenean Institute of Ecology-CSIC, ([email protected])
  • Dr. Jesús Revuelto Benedí, Pyrenean Institute of Ecology-CSIC, ([email protected])