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Reshaping Science-Policy Interactions in Climate Policy: International Stock-Taking and Lessons for Austria

Das Projekt "Reshaping Science-Policy Interactions in Climate Policy: International Stock-Taking and Lessons for Austria" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Freiburg, Institut für Forst- und Umweltpolitik durchgeführt. ReSciPI strives to provide policy-relevant insights on how climate science and climate policy can be integrated in a more productive way. The project builds on an innovative theoretical approach that clearly goes beyond mere 'knowledge transfer and conceptualizes science-policy interactions in an iterative and reflexive manner ('knowledge brokerage, KB). Specifically, ReSciPI aims to: (i) map and analyze the institutions, actors and processes of science-policy interaction in Austrian climate policy in order to identify the strengths, weaknesses, potentials and obstacles for an effective KB; (ii) provide an overview of different forms of institutionalization of climate KB in selected industrialized countries (stocktaking survey); (iii) get a profound understanding of how climate science and climate policy are effectively integrated in innovative KB models (in-depth cases); (iv) to provide options on how to improve institutions and processes of KB by synthesizing the empirical in-sights gained and critically reflecting with relevant stakeholders, preferably in the ACRP Forum, on how a productive climate science-policy interface in Austria and beyond could look like.

EFFICIENT WHEAT - Verbesserung der Stickstoffnutzungseffizienz in Europäischem Winterweizen unter Trockenstress

Das Projekt "EFFICIENT WHEAT - Verbesserung der Stickstoffnutzungseffizienz in Europäischem Winterweizen unter Trockenstress" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität München, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für Ernährung, Landnutzung und Umwelt, Lehrstuhl für Pflanzenzüchtung durchgeführt. Die Entwicklung von Sorten, die bei einer effizienteren Nutzung vorhandenen Stickstoffs hohe Ertragsstabilität und hohe Backqualität auch unter ungünstigen Umweltbedingungen garantieren, ist eine Herausforderung in Hinblick auf das erhöhte Risiko für das Auftreten von Hitzewellen und Trockenheit in ausgedehnten Gebieten Zentral- und Osteuropas. EFFICIENT WHEAT ist ein kollektives Forschungsprojekt der Österreichischen Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit (AGES), der TU München Lehrstuhl Pflanzenzüchtung (TUM), der Bayerischen Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL), KWS Lochow GmbH, Lantmännen SW Seed GmbH, Saatzucht Streng-Engelen GmbH & Co. KG, Secobra Saatzucht GmbH, Saatzucht Donau GesmbH & Co.KG und Saatzucht Edelhof. Da die ungarische Agrarwirtschaft ganz besonders stark vom Problem Trockenheit betroffen ist, besteht außerdem eine Zusammenarbeit mit der Cereal Research Non-profit Company (CRC). Angestrebt wird die Beschleunigung des Züchtungsfortschritts bei Winterweizen durch eine Verbesserung des vorhandenen Zuchtmaterials hinsichtlich Stickstoffnutzungseffizienz (NUE) und Trockentoleranz ohne signifikante Ertrags- oder Qualitätseinbußen. Dabei werden im Einzelnen die Identifizierung von Sorten mit hohem Ertrags- und Qualitätspotential, welche Gene tragen, die mit einer höheren NUE unter Trockenstress assoziiert sind, die Etablierung von Screening-Techniken für N-assoziierte Merkmale zur großflächigen Anwendung im Zuchtgarten sowie die Entwicklung molekularer Marker für die markergestützte Selektion anvisiert. Drei verschiedene Arbeitspakete werden bearbeitet: 1. die phänotypische Charakterisierung von 30 europäischen Elitewinterweizengenotypen in Feldversuchen an 11 (klimatisch) unterschiedlichen Standorten in Deutschland, Österreich und Ungarn, 2. die Analyse indirekter und direkter Backqualitätsparameter sowie 3. Assoziationskartierung von QTL für eine verbesserte NUE unter Trockenstressbedingungen. Im Rahmen von EFFICIENT WHEAT soll geprüft werden, ob die vorhandenen europäischen Hochertragssorten wertvolle Allele für eine verbesserte Stickstoffnutzungseffizienz tragen, die unter Trockenstress wirksam werden. Das Kernsortiment von 30 Winterweizengenotypen, gezüchtet in Österreich, Deutschland, Ungarn, Frankreich und England, stellt das Elitezuchtmaterial unterschiedlicher klimatischer Regionen dar. Diese ausgewählten Sorten werden im Feld bei natürlicher Bewässerung und auf sandigen Böden mit zusätzlicher Bewässerung angebaut. Weiterhin werden Gewächshausversuche unter kontrollierten Bedingungen durchgeführt. Als Grundlage für die angestrebte Marker-Merkmals-Assoziationskartierung werden morpho-physiologische Merkmale erfasst, die allelische Variation von N-assoziierten Kandidatengenen innerhalb der Winterweizensorten untersucht sowie stickstoffrelevante Parameter in Stroh, Korn und Boden ermittelt. usw.

Energy Scenarios 2030. A Basis for the Projection fo Austrian Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Das Projekt "Energy Scenarios 2030. A Basis for the Projection fo Austrian Greenhouse Gas Emissions" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Österreichisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung durchgeführt. In this project energy scenarios up to the year 2030 representing economic trends and impacts of climate and energy policies are developed. These provide a basis for the reporting duties 'monitoring mechanism' of the Federal Environmental Agency regarding the UNFCCC. For this purpose the dynamic econometric Input-Output (DEIO) model of the WIFO is used. lt represents energy demands of 59 NACE 2-digit sectors, and the household sector in relations to energy prices, technical and socio-demographic variables such as stock of dwellings and energy efficiency explaining economic developments. The DEIQ model is linked to three partial bottom-up models of other research groups, which describe the heating system, electricity demand and power generation and the transport sector. Scenario results are presented according to the template of the aggregated energy balance of Statistics Austria with regard to 1. the reference, with-measures (WM) scenario, 2. a sensitivity analysis to the reference scenario, and 3. a climate and energy policy scenario (with additional-measures, WAM) with 4. a sensitivity analysis 10 the WAM scenario. The WM scenario is based on recent WIFO economic forecasts and focuses on the impacts of the economic crisis on energy demand. The WAM scenario is based on the Austrian Energy Strategy, reflecting the targets of the final energy consumption (1,100 PJ p.a.), the share of renewable energy according to the definition of the EU climate and energy package (34 percent) and the reduction of greenhouse gases by 16 percent within the EU 'effort sharing.

Global Monitoring of Soil Moisture for Water Hazards Assessment (GMSM) - Phase I

Das Projekt "Global Monitoring of Soil Moisture for Water Hazards Assessment (GMSM) - Phase I" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität Wien, Institut für Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung (IPF) durchgeführt. Soil moisture - the water stored in soil within reach of the plants - is a crucial parameter for a large number of applications. Consequently, the field of microwave remote sensing of soil moisture has been an important research topic since the 1970s. But only in the last few years significant progress towards operational soil moisture services has been made. This progress became possible due to advances in sensor technology and new algorithmic approaches. With the improved algorithms it has been possible to derive soil moisture from existing operational microwave sensors. The first global soil moisture dataset derived from ERS-1/2 scatterometer measurements was released in 2002. The first near-real-time operational soil moisture service was started by EUMETSAT in May 2008 based on METOP ASCAT, which is the successor instrument of the ERS-1/2 scatterometer. Austria has made important contributions to these developments. The algorithms for retrieving soil moisture from the C-band scatterometers on board of ERS-1/2 and METOP have been developed by the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien). Within EUMETSAT's Satellite Application Facility in Support to Operational Hydrology and Water Management (Hydrology SAF) the Austrian meteorological service (ZAMG) coordinates the soil moisture activities and is responsible for building up operational services for value-added METOP ASCAT soil moisture products. The overall goal of the proposed project is to advance the use of soil moisture services based on METOP ASCAT and complementary satellite systems, most importantly SMOS and ENVISAT ASAR, by extending the Hydrology SAF products to Africa and Australia, carrying out extensive calibration and validation (Cal/Val) activities and by developing novel water hazards applications. The considered applications are weather forecasting, drought and yield monitoring, hydrologic prediction, epidemiological modelling, climate change, desertification monitoring and societal risks assessment. A project of comparable thematic focus and breath has not been proposed before. It is expected that the interdisciplinary cooperation of specialists from different fields will lead to important scientific innovations that will promote a wide use of satellite technology in water hazards applications.

Austrian Settlement and Alpine Environment Cluster for GMES

Das Projekt "Austrian Settlement and Alpine Environment Cluster for GMES" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität Wien, Institut für Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung (IPF) durchgeführt. The project aims to develop innovative, sustainable services in the settlement and alpine environment markets as well as in the supporting infrastructure. It contributes to the European Global Monitoring of Environment and Security (GMES) programme which was initiated to support Europe s goals regarding sustainable development and global governance by providing timely and quality data, information and knowledge. The project brings together Austrian commercial and research organizations with backgrounds in earth observation and geographic information systems. The Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) contributes in this project to the thematic area settlements which aims to produce novel products by combining high-resolution satellite imagery, airborne laser scanner data, street layers and census data. Foreseen products are urban land cover, urban structural maps, population density maps, and many more. TU Wien s role concerns mainly the processing of airborne laser scanner data and quality control of the synergistic products.

Environmental Mapping Applications using Terra SAR-X

Das Projekt "Environmental Mapping Applications using Terra SAR-X" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität Wien, Institut für Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung (IPF) durchgeführt. Remote sensing has been used more and more for environmental mapping applications. Main focus so far was on the use of optical sensors having a strong drawback due to their dependency on cloud coverage. With upcoming commercial radar sensors, research activities revealed a strong potential of radar data for environmental mapping activities. Nevertheless, their use has been restricted due to low resolution. With the launch of TerraSAR-X in 2007, new SAR data will become available, offering high resolution (up to 1 m) and fully polarimetric data for sophisticated mapping applications. Nevertheless, little is yet known about the information content and application potential in environmental land applications. Therefore, the goals of this project are the improvement of existing X-band scattering models and the development of environmental mapping applications for TerraSAR X data in Austria and in potential export markets. As reference data for the development of X-band backscatter models airborne laser scanner measurements from different Austrian test sites will be used.

SPLASH - European Union Water Initiative - European Research Area Network (EUWI Era-Net)

Das Projekt "SPLASH - European Union Water Initiative - European Research Area Network (EUWI Era-Net)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Hydrophil - Consulting and Knowledge Development GmbH durchgeführt. Narrative description of Project: SPLASH has been the name of the European Union Water Initiative European Research Area Network (EUWI Era-Net). This network project has been developed and implemented by a consortium of 15 ministries, funding agencies and national research and technological development authorities from 11 European countries. Objective: The overall aim of SPLASH has been to improve water research for poverty reduction and thus to contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). SPLASH objective has been to improve the effectiveness of European funded research on water for development and to develop the capacity of local organizations to coordinate and communicate their research activities. The project focus was Africa and the Mekong region. SPLASH focussed on the following specific objectives: - To coordinate existing national and regional research programmes to minimise duplication and identify gaps; - To design collaborative research programmes which address identified needs; - To speed up knowledge sharing between researchers and practitioners; - To map good research management to maximise use of resources; - To support the transfer of research into practice. Description of actual services provided by your staff within the assignment: In close collaboration with the Austrian Development Agency HYDROPHIL experts worked with other European agencies on the implementation of several Work Packages (WP) and specifically was responsible for the fulfilment of WP4 - Engagement of Main Actors (i.e., from Africa and the Mekong region). HYDROPHIL conducted regional stakeholder consultations in Western Africa (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso), Eastern Africa (Kisumu, Kenya) and in the Mekong Basin (Phnom Penh, Cambodia).

Neos-Quick - Testing of Novel Earth Observation Systems for Supporting Quality Control Activities required by the Kyoto Protocol

Das Projekt "Neos-Quick - Testing of Novel Earth Observation Systems for Supporting Quality Control Activities required by the Kyoto Protocol" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität Wien, Institut für Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung (IPF) durchgeführt. The Kyoto Protocol as a substantial extension to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) contains quantified, legally binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and allows emissions to be balanced by terrestrial biological carbon sinks. The Austrian target for the first commitment period (2008 2012) is a reduction of GHG emissions of 13% below those of 1990, the EU aims at a reduction of 8%. Due to further increased GHG emissions since 1990, an actual reduction target of 22% can be expected for Austria. The KP and its implementation rules provide for human induced net changes of domestic sinks in the land-use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector to be counted in the emission balance of Annex 1 countries (developed countries and economies in transition). With the so called flexible mechanisms the Kyoto Protocol designated three international mechanisms, including sink projects abroad and GHG emission trading, to increase flexibility and costeffectiveness in achieving GHG emission reductions in the first commitment period 2008-2012. Under the UNFCCC and the KP, parties must follow clearly defined GHG inventory and reporting obligations including the verifiable and transparent documentation of the LULUCF sector. The latter is very precisely specified by the recently published IPCC Good Practice Guidance (GPG) for LULUCF, which suspects that in most countries the existing land use and inventory systems are inadequate to meet all the land reporting requirements of the Kyoto Protocol. Remote Sensing is attributed a significant role for LULUCF reporting and verification by the IPCC GPG. Remote sensing can be applied to supplement missing elements of existing land use and forest inventory systems, or to deliver the basic LULUCF information and to estimate (via models) above ground biomass changes on the one hand, and/or as an independent verification/validation tool for land use/forest area changes and above ground biomass. The development of RS as an independent verification tool as done in NEOS-QUICK, based on a multi-sensor approach, integrating GIS and ground observations, nevertheless leaves room for flexible applications of the elaborated RS techniques in either of the above mentioned ways.

Effects of different tillage methods on runoff, soil loss, and erosion related soil quality indicators on sloped cropland

Das Projekt "Effects of different tillage methods on runoff, soil loss, and erosion related soil quality indicators on sloped cropland" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, Institut für Hydraulik und landeskulturelle Wasserwirtschaft durchgeführt. Bodenerosion ist eine der größten Bedrohungen der Ressource Boden. Abtrag des Oberbodens sowie Deposition des erodierten Bodenmaterials beeinflussen alle Bodenfunktionen wie Bodenproduktivität, Filter-, Puffer- und Transformatorfunktion. Im Jahr 1994 wurde an drei Standorten in Niederösterreich ein Feldversuch begonnen, um die Auswirkungen unterschiedlicher Bodenbearbeitungen auf Pflanzenertrag, Oberflächenabfluss, Bodenabtrag sowie Nährstoff- und Pestizidverluste zu untersuchen. Bei den Bearbeitungsvarianten handelt es sich um 1) konventionelle Bodenbearbeitung, 2) bodenschonende Bodenbearbeitung mit Wintergründecke, und 3) Minimalbodenbearbeitung mit Wintergründecke. Acht Jahre nach Beginn dieses Versuches sollen im Rahmen dieses Projektes die Auswirkungen der unterschiedlichen Bodenbearbeitungen auf Bodenqualitätskennwerte untersucht werden. Ziele dieses Vorhabens bestehen in 1) der Untersuchung der Auswirkungen konventioneller, bodenschonender und Minimalbodenbarbeitung auf physikalische, chemische und biologische Bodenkennwerte, 2) der Untersuchung der infolge Bodenbearbeitung hervorgerufenen räumliche und zeitliche Variabilität von Bodenkennwerten entlang von Hängen und 3) der Sammlung von Daten zur Bewertung von 'best management practices' (BMP). Die Erosionsmessungen werden an den drei Standorten für jede Variante an 4 m breiten und 15 m langen Messflächen vorgenommen. Die Hangneigungen betragen zwischen 6 und 16 Prozent. Abfluss, Bodenabtrag sowie gelöste und an Sediment gebundenen Nährstoff- und Pestizidabträge werden für jedes erosive Ereignis gemessen. Zur Abschätzung langjähriger Auswirkungen von Bodenbearbeitung/bewirtschaftung auf Bodenqualität werden an jedem Standort und von jeder Variante ungestörte und gestörte Bodenproben aus unterschiedlichen Bodentiefen entnommen und die wesentlichen bodenphysikalischen, -chemischen und -biologischen Kennwerte bestimmt. Um die zeitliche und räumliche Variabilität zu untersuchen, werden bei jeder Variante drei Hangabschnitte festgelegt und zwar Oberhang, Mittelhang und Hangfuß. Bodenwassergehalt und Bodenwasserspannung werden in wöchentlichen Intervallen gemessen, um ev. Unterschiede der hydrologischen Zuständen in unterschiedlichen Hangbereichen zu erfassen. In etwa vierwöchigen Abständen werden aus 0-30cm Bodentiefe Bodenproben entnommen und physikalische, chemische und biologische Bodenparameter bestimmt. Bei der Ernte wird für jeden Hangabschnitt der Pflanzenertrag gemessen. Verbesserte Bodenqualität verringert mögliche Beeinträchtigungen der Umwelt wie etwa potentielle Kontamination von Oberflächen- und Grundwässern durch Nährstoffe und Pestizide. Weiters wird das Projekt Daten für die Bewertung von BMPs und Informationen über die Lage von 'sensitiven' Gebieten innerhalb von Einzugsgebieten liefern.

EUMETSAT Satellite Application Facility on Support to Operational Hydrology and Water Management - CDOP1

Das Projekt "EUMETSAT Satellite Application Facility on Support to Operational Hydrology and Water Management - CDOP1" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität Wien, Institut für Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung (IPF) durchgeführt. Meteorological satellites operated by EUMETSAT can provide information on a wide range of environmental processes taking place in the atmosphere and on the Earth's surface. For development and production of higher-level geophysical products, EUMETSAT has established a network of so-called Satellite Application Facilities (SAFs) which undertake, on a distributed basis, the necessary research, development and operational services and products aimed at enhancing the value and use of meteorological satellite data for applications. The objective of the H-SAF is to support operational hydrology and water management in Europe by providing remotely sensed information about rainfall, soil moisture and snow cover in near-real-time. The task of TU Wien is to develop, together with the Austrian Weather Service (ZAMG) and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), soil moisture products based on data acquired by the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) on-board METOP. The role of TU Wien is to develop algorithms for retrieval of surface soil moisture information for European watersheds, which will later be operated by ZAMG. The task of ECMWF is to assimilate the ASCAT surface soil moisture data into their models to estimate the root-zone soil moisture content which is also of high interest for hydrological models. The H-SAF is hosted by the Italian Weather Service (Officio Generale per la Meteorologia). The H-SAF is now in its first Continuous Development and Operations Phase (CDOP1).

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