Technical note: Introduction of a superconducting gravimeter as novel hydrological sensor for the Alpine research catchment Zugspitze

Abstract. GFZ (German Research Centre for Geosciences) set up the Zugspitze Geodynamic Observatory Germany with a worldwide unique installation of superconducting gravimeter at summit Mount on top Partnach spring catchment. This high alpine catchment is well instrumented, acts as natural lysimeter and has significant importance water supply to its forelands, large mean annual precipitation 2080 mm long seasonal snow cover period 9 months, while showing sensitivity climate change. However, regarding majority regions worldwide, there only limited knowledge temporal storage variations due sparsely distributed hydrological meteorological sensors variability complexity signals in terrain. underlines well-equipped areas such serving test laboratories improved monitoring, understanding prediction processes. The observatory gravimeter, OSG 052, supplements existing sensor network novel system direct observation integral gravity effect total research Zugspitze. Besides experimental set-up available data sets, gravimetric methods residuals are presented based first 27 months observations from 29 December 2018 31 March 2021. snowpack identified being primary contributor and, thus, signal range 750 nm s?2 corresponding 1957 equivalent measured scale an altitude 2420 m end May 2019. Hydro-gravimetric analysis reveal snow–gravimetric footprint 4 km distance around dominant contribution shows that hydro-gravimetric approach delivers representative insights into balance this site.