The climatologic significance of topography, altitude and region in high mountains – A survey of oceanic-continental differentiations of the Scandes

Within the discussion of climate change (HOUGHTON et al. 1990; OSTENDORF et al. 1999; WALTHER et al. 2002) the sensitive high mountain ecosystems could act as indicators for ecosystem response to global warming (BENISTON a. INNES 1998; ELIASSEN a. GRAMMELTVEDT 1990). This may induce a change of species distribution and biodiversity in high mountain landscapes (CALLAGHAN et al. 1993; CHAPIN et al. 2000) and finally lead to a replacement of alpine by sub-alpine ecosystems (AAS a. FAARLUND 1995; CRAMER 1997), respectively. To understand possible mountain ecosystem response to global warming, the climate system itself must be analysed at different spatio-temporal scales (ACIA 2004). High mountain climate is most decisively differentiated by topography (BARRY 1992; BECKER a. BUGMANN 1997). On a broad scale, superior circulation systems are modified by means of mountain chains located within the climate zones (FORLAND et al. 2000; RUMMUKAINEN et al. 2001). As such, the Scandes mountain chain stretching orthogonally to the westerlies is clearly differentiated into most oceanic and continental regions over a relatively short distance (MOEN 1999). Since most official meteorological stations are located J. Loffler, R. Pape, D. Wundram: The climatologic significance of topography, altitude and region in high mountains 15