Surface temperatures in steep alpine rock faces - A strategy for regional-scale measurement and modelling

A wealth of near-surface rock temperatures have been published, but no systematic study of their spatial distribution is available. A campaign for the spatial characterisation of rock surface temperatures in the Swiss Alps is presented. The four main aspects are: 1) sampling strategy and site selection based on an existing ground temperature model; 2) logger design; 3) logistics of safely and efficiently accessing sites and 4) criteria for the local placement of data loggers. In 2001, more than 20 data loggers were placed at locations between 2000 and 4500 in a.s.l., recording temperatures at a depth of 10 cm every two hours. Sites were selected in order to cover a wide range of temperatures, altitudes and slope aspects. In autumn 2002, 14 complete time series were recovered. First analyses and results are presented.