such data. Data are stored in a standardized and documented way to facilitate its
integration and analysis. Information generated is used in decision-aid tools and
decision-making knowledge.
16.8 Distillation of Information and Outreach
Effective science outreach and communication is critical if we are to improve
environmental decision-making (Lubchenco 1998; Bennett et al. 2005). Data
analysis, elaboration of scientific publications and distillation of the information is
the crucial final stage of the information-management processes. A pillar of our
monitoring programme is the collaboration with research experts trained for the
work of analysing and interpreting the information gathered in the scientific context
as well as the development of simulation models. As a result of the analysis and
synthesis came scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, followed by
reports that distilled the results of the peer-reviewed publications for
decision-makers (Driscoll et al. 2011; Zamora et al. 2016).
16.9 Detecting Changing Signals
In this section, we present a summary of the main results found at the site LTER of
Sierra Nevada (Zamora et al. 2016). Specifically, we present a temporal evaluation
of the two main drivers of global change: climate and land-use changes as well as
the biotic and socioeconomic responses to these changes.
Apart from land-use and climate changes, other drivers of global change (Sala
et al. 2000) appear to have a comparatively minor impact on Sierra Nevada. For
instance, this massif is relatively far from centres of industrial activity and
therefore anthropic pollution detected is low and comes mainly from the city of
Granada (c. 235,000 inhabitants). On the contrary, Sierra Nevada is an invaluable
watchtower to detect atmospheric depositions of remote origin. For example, for
its geographic position in the extreme south of continental Europe, this massif
receives aerosol depositions from the Sahara Desert (Morales-Baquero et al.
2006). Also, in Sierra Nevada National Park, no serious problems of invasive
species have been detected yet‚ but other ecosystems situated at lower elevations
are affected, especially aquatic ecosystems.
16.9.1 Land-Use Change
Land-use drive changes in the vegetation cover, affecting ultimately the biogeochemical and waters cycles, the stability of mountain slopes, and household
economies. Centuries of human activity have changed the structure of the landscape
16 Monitoring Global Change in High Mountains
397
integration and analysis. Information generated is used in decision-aid tools and
decision-making knowledge.
16.8 Distillation of Information and Outreach
Effective science outreach and communication is critical if we are to improve
environmental decision-making (Lubchenco 1998; Bennett et al. 2005). Data
analysis, elaboration of scientific publications and distillation of the information is
the crucial final stage of the information-management processes. A pillar of our
monitoring programme is the collaboration with research experts trained for the
work of analysing and interpreting the information gathered in the scientific context
as well as the development of simulation models. As a result of the analysis and
synthesis came scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, followed by
reports that distilled the results of the peer-reviewed publications for
decision-makers (Driscoll et al. 2011; Zamora et al. 2016).
16.9 Detecting Changing Signals
In this section, we present a summary of the main results found at the site LTER of
Sierra Nevada (Zamora et al. 2016). Specifically, we present a temporal evaluation
of the two main drivers of global change: climate and land-use changes as well as
the biotic and socioeconomic responses to these changes.
Apart from land-use and climate changes, other drivers of global change (Sala
et al. 2000) appear to have a comparatively minor impact on Sierra Nevada. For
instance, this massif is relatively far from centres of industrial activity and
therefore anthropic pollution detected is low and comes mainly from the city of
Granada (c. 235,000 inhabitants). On the contrary, Sierra Nevada is an invaluable
watchtower to detect atmospheric depositions of remote origin. For example, for
its geographic position in the extreme south of continental Europe, this massif
receives aerosol depositions from the Sahara Desert (Morales-Baquero et al.
2006). Also, in Sierra Nevada National Park, no serious problems of invasive
species have been detected yet‚ but other ecosystems situated at lower elevations
are affected, especially aquatic ecosystems.
16.9.1 Land-Use Change
Land-use drive changes in the vegetation cover, affecting ultimately the biogeochemical and waters cycles, the stability of mountain slopes, and household
economies. Centuries of human activity have changed the structure of the landscape
16 Monitoring Global Change in High Mountains
397