Torgnon (Valle d’Aosta), August 2025 — A coordinated effort by CNR IRET, ARPA Valle d’Aosta, and CMCC, led by Marta Galvagno and Dario Papale, has successfully upgraded two ICOS Associated Stations in Valle d’Aosta: the Torgnon grassland (IT-Tor) and the Torgnon larch forest (IT-TrF).
Between August 2nd and 9th, standard eddy covariance equipment was installed at both sites, significantly enhancing their level of standardization. At the forest site, two permanent monitoring plots were established, equipped with a below-canopy PAR system and a set of dendrometers in accordance with ICOS standard protocols. The real-time data transmission under finalization will further increase the scientific value of these important Alpine ICOS and eLTER stations, providing high-quality data of particular interest to the RS CalVal community.
The upgrades were made possible thanks to the ITINERIS (Italian Integrated Environmental Research Infrastructures System) project (IR0000032 – CUP B53C22002150006), funded by the EU’s Next Generation EU programme under Mission 4 “Education and Research” – Component 2 “From research to business” – Investment 3.1. Participation of CMCC personnel was supported through the NUBICOS Horizon Europe project (GA 101130676).
This achievement demonstrates the strength of the ICOS research infrastructure network, where collaboration, sharing of expertise and sensors, and joint field campaigns enable high-impact scientific results.