Alpine Climate
Alpine test site at the environmental research station “Schneeferner Haus” on the Zugspitze, Germany (Operated by: Fraunhofer ISE)
Snow loads on collectors at the alpine test site Schneeferner Haus, Zugsitze, Germany
The alpine site represents a cold-moderate mountain climate with daily and seasonal cycles in temperature, high UV-loads as well as high snow and wind loads. The strong variations in temperature, caused by low ambient temperatures and fast heating processes during sunshine, different temperature expansion coefficients and temperature gradients, can lead to strong mechanical tensions in the collector.
