Platform LéXPLORE

LéXPLORE: Experimental floating platform on Lake Leman

“Léman exploration (LéXPLORE)” is a unique partnership between EPFL, Eawag, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, and CARRTEL in Thonon-les-Bains. This innovative platform is equipped with cutting-edge scientific instrumentation for simultaneous biological, chemical and physical analyses at high resolution.

Importance and advantages:

  • Acquire data at high spatial and temporal frequency, in order to measure key processes at the right resolution
  • Improve models to better predict the lake evolution and adaptation to climate changes
  • Promote a dynamic and cutting-edged research on Lake Leman, by reinforcing regional collaborations and attracting international researchers.
  • Develop innovative technological applications to resolve pertinent problems to society
  • Provide an easy access to data in near-real time
  • Raise environmental awareness during public visits

Researchers greatly benefit from this novel infrastructure!

LéXPLORE already hosts 30 scientific projects. The goals of these projects are to:

  • Measure and model key physical and biogeochemical processes at high frequency (such as Carbon cycling, Primary Production, Thermal syphons, calcite precipitation)
  • Understand the ecosystem functioning ranging from bacteria, new invasive mussels, phytoplankton and fish populations
  • Evaluate the pollution (microplastics, organic pollutant) and their impacts
  • Develop and test new technology (optofluidic sensor, biosensor, submersible modem, degradability of biopolyester, GenoRobotics )
  • Manage and share data with the online portal from DATALAKES

All these projects running in parallel will offer unique opportunities for interdisciplinary outcomes.

Scientific Report

Discover our first scientific report 2021!

It provides an overview of the results from 23 current projects.
For 5 past projects, the report describes their achievements in more details.

 

LéXPLORE

See website

The Limnology Center managed LéXPLORE construction and exploitation in collaboration with the partners. Check the common dedicated website.