DWD is also an active participant in international networks: pursuant to its legal mandate, the DWD thus collaborates with the major meteorological institutions and research centres around the world. In close agreement with the Federal Gov- ernment, it defends Germany's meteorological interests in the various intergovernmental and international organisations, such as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and ensures that its international obligations regarding weather and climate observations are met.

Hohenpeissenberg Meteorological Observatory Hohenpeissenberg Since 1952, Hohenpeissenberg Observatory has been one of the two research observato- ries operated by the DWD. The fact that meteorological measurements began here as early as 1781 makes it the oldest mountain weather station in the world. The observatory is Germany's only global station in the Global Atmosphere Watch programme (GAW). As such, it has – in addition to the ozone measurements carried out since 1967 – been involved in measuring a wide range of trace gases, aerosols and precipitation contents since 1995 and monitors the developments in the field by means of scientif- ic process studies.

Researchers at the ob- servatory are continually striving to enhance the radar technology used in the DWD's Weather Radar Network with the aim of optimising weather forecasting and warnings. The broad range of tasks carried out at the observatory include both research and, by its very nature, the recording of meteorological data. The observatory is also one of the Climate Reference Stations run by the DWD. If you see any damage at one of the trail's stations, please send us a brief notice. Thank you very much!

Publishing details Text and editing: Andreas Friedrich Layout: Susanne Stummvoll Picture credits Stefan Gilge (DWD), www.fotolia.de

Produced in collaboration with the Municipality of Hohenpeissenberg

More information about Hohenpeissen- berg Meteorological Observatory can be found here! ▸

Deutscher Wetterdienst Through our website at Press and Public Relations www.dwd.de you have also Frankfurter Str. 135 access to our pages on edition, 10.000 / 03.14 63067 Offenbach th Tel.: +49 (0)69 / 8062-0 [email protected] 2 DWD, Weather and Climate This weather trail is a little journey of discovery into the world of weather and climate. Elev- en stations along the trail provide an insight into the exciting world of meteorology:

Station 1: Weather and climate Station 2: Atmosphere Station 3: The water cycle Station 4: Clouds Station 5: Visibility Station 6: Phenology Station 7: Typical pre-alpine weather features Station 8: Optical phenomena Station 9: Measuring the weather Station 10: Weather forecasts Station G: History

It takes about 15 minutes to walk the weather trail. All paths are surfaced and easily accessible; however sturdy footwear is recommended in wet weather. In winter, the paths are not cleared, so their use is at your own risk. After touring the sta- tions, you are warmly invited to pay a visit to our information pavilion. Here you can learn more about climate and the work of the observatory.

Along the weather trail, there is also a quiz for the young scien- tists among us! Perhaps you Ziel/Observatorium will be able to answer the questions that we ask at each station and solve our little riddle. The Start/ solution to the quiz Parkplatz can be found in the information pavilion.

Have fun on your journey of discov- ery and good luck with the quiz!

Station 1: Weather and climate Weather is always around us. It results from the interaction of the classical elements: sun, water, earth and air. Alone, any one of the weather elements can cause a change in the weather. Here you can learn more about weath- er patterns and what the difference is between weather and climate.

Station 2: Atmosphere Our earth is surrounded, like a skin, by an extremely thin, protective layer of air: the atmosphere. If the earth was a peach, the entire atmosphere would be as thin as the peach's skin. The atmosphere is subdivided into several layers, and af- ter visiting this station, you will know in which of these layers the weather takes place.

Station 3: The water cycle The total amount of water on the earth never changes. But water is constantly assuming different forms and plays a central role in determining the weather.

Station 4: Clouds Ziel/Observatorium Alto-

Start/ Parkplatz gether, there are 27 types of clouds with nine sub- types. More often than not, several different cloud types occur together so there are a large number of variations. Learn at station 4 to recognise the most important cloud types.

Station 5: Visibility Can you see the TV tower in Munich from here? If you can, that means that visibility is especially good today. Try measuring visibility for yourself using the visibility markers in the landscape.

Station 6: Phenology Phenology studies the influence of weather and climate on the seasonal development of plants. How do climatic variations affect plant life? You will find the answers here.

Station 7: Typical pre-alpine weather features The weather on mount Hoher Peissenberg has some distinc- tive features. The mount's location close to the mountains of the Alps gives rise to typical weather phenomena that one should be prepared for.

Station 8: Optical phenomena Why is the sky blue? And how exactly does a rainbow form? Station 8 answers these questions and tells you about other fascinating and colourful phenomena in the sky.

Station 9: Measuring the weather You have already observed weather at the previous stations. But how is weather measured?

Station 10: Weather forecasts In almost all areas of life, people depend on good and reliable weather forecasts. Find out here about the complicated cal- Ziel/Observatorium culations required to forecast the weather.

Station G: History Meteorological measurement began here at the oldest moun- Start/ tain weather station in the world as early as 1781. At this Parkplatz station, you will learn more about the history of meteorology at Hohenpeissenberg. We hope you have enjoyed this short tour around the world of weather and climate. If you want to learn more about the work of the Deutscher Wetterdienst, it's easy to find us on the Internet at: www.dwd.de

Weather and climate from one source The Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) holds information on all aspects of the weather and climate. The DWD's core tasks are weather forecasting, issuing warnings of weather-relat- ed hazards, climate monitoring over Germany as well as the assessment of climate changes and provision of advice and guidance on climate change adaptation. The legal mandate for the numerous tasks around weather and climate is set out in the 'Law on the Deutscher Wetterdienst'. As a federal authority under the department of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI), the DWD offers a wide range of services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, both to the general public and to special user groups in business, science, the media and politics.

All work and activities of the DWD rely on the recording of all accessible data on weather and climate. Comprised of around 180 main weather stations plus about 1,780 stations run by voluntary weather observers, the DWD's measuring network is one of the densest in the world. It also includes 48 stations that take continuous measurements for monitoring radioac- tivity in the air and in precipitation. With data from weather radar systems (17 altogether), aerological stations and me- teorological satellites adding to the land-based observations, weather data coverage of Germany is practically complete. Day after day, the DWD's super- computers receive, process and store more than half a million weather bulletins, preparing them for use by public institutions, industry, the media and, of course, the general public. Because the weath- er doesn't stop at national borders, the