percentage of nutrients in dry matter (leaf N (%))

Total nitrogen concentration data of the Gesäuse-Johnsbachtal site.

Dataset provides information about soil temperature, soil C and N dynamics at different sites in the alpine tundra, along an elevational gradient from 2500 to 2900 m asl during the period 2007-2019. The soil temperature is measured continuously while the soil and the water samples are collected during the snow free season. The ongoing studies aimed at investigating how the meteorological variables affect the biogeochemistry of seasonally snow covered areas, with a special focus on the effect of the snow cover duration on soil and water C and N dynamics during the growing season.

The dataset provides information about the soil chemical properties at eight permanent LTER sites (named site 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, according to the LTER site numerations), located between 2686 (site 10) and 2854 m a.s.l. (site 6). The investigated period is 2016-2020. Details: Site 1 (coordinates: 45°52'22.43"N, 7°52'25.84"E; elevation: 2840 m a.s.l.), Site 2 (coordinates: 45°52'22.17"N, 7°52'38.07"E; elevation: 2800 m a.s.l.), Site 3 (coordinates: 45°52'13.52"N, 7°52'35.01"E; elevation: 2770 m a.s.l.), Site 6 (coordinates: 45°52'32.21"N, 7°52'31.87"E; elevation: 2854 m a.s.l.), Site 7 (coordinates: 45°52'29.13"N, 7°52'44.71"E; elevation: 2813 m a.s.l.), Site 8 (coordinates: 45°52'27.74"N, 7°52'56.86"E; elevation: 2749 m a.s.l.), Site 9 (coordinates: 45°52'23.80"N, 7°53'3.96"E; elevation: 2720 m a.s.l.), and Site 10 (coordinates: 45°52'21.76"N, 7°53'9.32"E; elevation: 2686 m a.s.l.). The bedrock is primarily micaschists, with some inclusions of amphibolites and calcschists. The vegetation of the sites is included in the ‘Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands’ (habitat 6150, according to the EU Habitat Directive). At each site, consisting of paired plots for soil and vegetation survey, three 9 m2 plots are established, where three topsoil samples (A horizon, 0–10 cm depth) are collected each month during the snow-free season. On soil samples the following analysis are performed: N-NH4, N-NO3, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), microbial carbon (Cmicr), and microbial nitrogen (Nmicr).

The dataset provides information about the physical and chemical characteristics of the snowpack. Every year, a snow profile is open and sampled before the beginning of the melting season, close to the Istituto Scientifico Angelo Mosso (45°52'31.27"N, 7°52'17.09"E, elevation: 2900 m a.s.l.). Data are available for the years 2009 and 2010, and the period 2014-2020 (2016 was not analysed). Snow depth and density are measured, and snow water equivalent (SWE) is calculated. The analysed snow chemical parameters are: pH, electrical conductivity (EC), N-NH4, and N-NO3 (period 2009, 2010, 2014-2020); dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) (period 2014-2020); cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K) (years 2009, 2010, 2015); anions (S-SO4, N-NO2, P-PO4, Cl) (years 2009, 2010, 2015); trace elements (Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Si, Ti, V, Zn) (year 2015).

The dataset provides information about the soil physical and chemical properties at eight permanent LTER sites (named site 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, according to the LTER site numerations), located between 2686 (site 10) and 2854 m a.s.l. (site 6). Details: Site 1 (coordinates: 45°52'22.43"N, 7°52'25.84"E; elevation: 2840 m a.s.l.), Site 2 (coordinates: 45°52'22.17"N, 7°52'38.07"E; elevation: 2800 m a.s.l.), Site 3 (coordinates: 45°52'13.52"N, 7°52'35.01"E; elevation: 2770 m a.s.l.), Site 6 (coordinates: 45°52'32.21"N, 7°52'31.87"E; elevation: 2854 m a.s.l.), Site 7 (coordinates: 45°52'29.13"N, 7°52'44.71"E; elevation: 2813 m a.s.l.), Site 8 (coordinates: 45°52'27.74"N, 7°52'56.86"E; elevation: 2749 m a.s.l.), Site 9 (coordinates: 45°52'23.80"N, 7°53'3.96"E; elevation: 2720 m a.s.l.), and Site 10 (coordinates: 45°52'21.76"N, 7°53'9.32"E; elevation: 2686 m a.s.l.). The bedrock is primarily micaschists, with some inclusions of amphibolites and calcschists. The vegetation of the sites is included in the ‘Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands’ (habitat 6150, according to the EU Habitat Directive). Each study site consists of paired plots for soil and vegetation survey. Soils belongs mainly to Regosol (sites 1 and 8), Leptosol (site 2), Cambisol (sites 6 and 7), and Umbrisol (sites 3, 9, and 10) great groups (IUSS Working Group WRB, 2015, E-ISBN 978-92-5- 108370-3.). On soil samples the following analyses are performed: pH, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (Olsen P), and particle-size.

Dataset provides information about soil temperature, soil C and N dynamics at different sites in the alpine tundra, along an elevational gradient from 2500 to 2900 m asl during the period 2009-2019. Moreover, one snow profile was opened every year before snowpack isothermal condition (to avoid losses via ionic pulse). Nitrate stored in snowpack is rilevant on yearly ion balance.

The dataset provides information about the soil chemical properties at two permanent LTER sites (named site 1 and 3, according to the LTER site numerations). The investigated period is 2008-2020. Details: Site 1 (coordinates: 45°52'22.43"N, 7°52'25.84"E; elevation: 2840 m a.s.l.) and Site 3 (coordinates: 45°52'13.52"N, 7°52'35.01"E; elevation: 2770 m a.s.l.). The bedrock is primarily micaschists, with some inclusions of amphibolites and calcschists. The vegetation of the sites is included in the ‘Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands’ (habitat 6150, according to the EU Habitat Directive). At each site, consisting of paired plots for soil and vegetation survey, three 9 m2 plots are established, where three topsoil samples (A horizon, 0–10 cm depth) are collected annually at the end of the snow-free season (September). On soil samples the following analysis are performed: N-NH4, N-NO3, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), microbial carbon (Cmicr), and microbial nitrogen (Nmicr).

The dataset provides information about the monthly water chemistry of two high-elevation lakes: Bowditch Lake (coordinates: 45°52'30.52"N, 7°52'15.51"E, elevation: 2900 m a.s.l., lake area: 2400 m2) and Cimalegna Lake (coordinates: 45°52'23.17"N, 7°52'37.60"E, elevation: 2800 m a.s.l., lake area: 2700 m2). The Bowditch and Cimalegna lakes are located in the uppermost area and in the middle of the Cimalegna plateau, respectively. The bedrock of both lake catchments is mainly characterised by metamorphic rocks with a predominance of rocks with acid composition, and displaying the secondary presence of basic and terrigenous-carbonatic rocks. Soil (often vegetated) is the main land cover type in the Cimalegna Lake catchment, while coarse sediment constitutes the main land cover type in the Bowditch Lake catchment. Lakes are sampled from 3 points on the shore with no vegetation, at ca. 10-cm depth. The analysed water chemical parameters are: N-NH4 and N-NO3 (period 2007-2020); dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) (period 2011-2020); pH and electrical conductivity (EC) (period 2015-2020).

Dataset provides information about soil temperature, soil C and N dynamics at different sites in the alpine tundra, along an elevational gradient from 2500 to 2900 m asl during the period 2005-2018. Moreover, one snow profile was opened every year before snowpack isothermal condition (to avoid losses via ionic pulse). Nitrate stored in snowpack is rilevant on yearly ion balance.