Monte Rosa is not only about mountaineering, history, and passion, but also science. Two scientific laboratories operate among its peaks: the Regina Margherita Observatory Hut on Gnifetti Peak at 4,554 meters, and the Angelo Mosso Institute at Col d’Olen at 2,901 meters.
The Regina Margherita Observatory Hut, established in 1893 at the initiative of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI), immediately became an internationally renowned scientific laboratory.
Declared in 1903 by the Washington Academy of Sciences as an “International Institute”, it hosted pioneering research throughout the 20th century in various scientific fields: physiology and medicine, glaciology, environmental sciences, and atmospheric physics.
The Margherita Hut remains one of the few laboratories in the world dedicated to high-altitude studies of respiratory, vascular, metabolic, and renal mechanisms, underlying acclimatization, altitude-related illnesses, and the limits of physical performance in rarefied air.
The Lys Col (4,250 m) and Gnifetti Col (4,454 m) are ideal sites for ice core extraction, which provides historical records of climate variations and chemical and isotopic composition of the atmosphere.
Some of these studies focus on mechanisms of long-distance transport and distribution of pollutants, such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and certain radioactive isotopes.
Recently, significant attention has been given to research strands with promising developments in the fields of environmental sciences and climate studies.
Below are some examples of research conducted and the institutions involved:
2007
> Several tests were carried out by the Politecnico di Torino regarding the applicability of power generation systems using fuel cells (hydrogen-powered) for small aircraft.
The Politecnico di Torino (which also provided the hut with its first internet connection) tested an innovative long-distance transmission system (over 300 km) using simple, low-cost broadband devices without intermediate repeaters, demonstrating significant potential for development in third-world countries.
2009
> Heidelberg University (DE) and Zurich University (CH)
2010
> Centre for Altitude, Space and Extreme
> Environment Medicine of the University College London (UK).
> Alfred Wegener Institute for marine and polar research, Bremerhaven (DE)
> Italian Auxological Institute (IT)
> University of Tübingen (DE)
2013
> Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
> Alfred Wegener Institute for marine and polar research, Bremerhaven (DE)
2015
> Alfred Wegener Institute for Marine and Polar Research in Bremerhaven (DE).
2016
> University of Salzburg (AT).
> German Aerospace Center – Köln (DE).
> Alfred Wegener Institute for Marine and Polar Research in Bremerhaven (DE).
2017
> German Aerospace Center – Köln (DE).
> Warwick Altitude Research Group (UK).
Scientific Research
on Monte Rosa
Proud to manage the scientific laboratory at the Regina Margherita Observatory Hut, the Rifugi Monterosa staff is committed to facilitating the organization and support of research teams.
