INTAROS Workshop, Brussels, 5 May 2017 Building long term observing systems in the Arctic – requirements and challenges from a cryosphere perspective INTAROS Workshop, Brussels, 5 May 2017 Michael Zemp, Director WGMS

intro ¦ science vs monitoring ¦ gcos ¦ gtn-g ¦ conclusions 1862 2010 Visualization by P. Rastner How much glacier ice is out there? How (fast) do glaciers change?

Science versus monitoring intro ¦ science vs monitoring ¦ gcos ¦ gtn-g ¦ conclusions Science versus monitoring Climate science requires observation series of > 30 years! Devon, Meighen, Melville ice caps, White Glacier (CA), Storglaciären (SE), Engabreen (NO), Austre Broeggerbreen, Midtre Lovenbreen (SJ)

We need more long-term monitoring programmes intro ¦ science vs monitoring ¦ gcos ¦ gtn-g ¦ conclusions We need more long-term monitoring programmes Globally there are c. 200,000 glaciers but only 40 ‘reference’ glaciers with mass-balance series >30 years! In the Arctic: only 8 ‘ref.’ glaciers!

Challenges of a research-based monitoring system intro ¦ science vs monitoring ¦ gcos ¦ gtn-g ¦ conclusions Challenges of a research-based monitoring system MONITORING SCIENCE Too much focused on innovation driven science. Lack of funding for long-term monitoring. Limited scientific reproducibility due to non-availability of basic data. modelling remote sensing in-situ observations

Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) intro ¦ science vs monitoring ¦ gcos ¦ gtn-g ¦ conclusions Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) GCOS 2016 IP, ANNEX A: ECV product requirements Swiss GCOS: role model for national funding http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/gcos/ http://www.gcos.ch

Framework for international coordination of monitoring intro ¦ science vs monitoring ¦ gcos ¦ gtn-g ¦ conclusions Framework for international coordination of monitoring ECV Coordinating body Long-term funding Data centres ESA CCI C3S Ice Sheets ? NSIDC, GEUS, BAS, DTU, CPCOM, several others + (+) Lake & River Ice ? (GTN-H) - Glaciers GTN-G WGMS, NSIDC Snow (GTN-H) WWW/GOS, NSIDC, SNOTEL, NCEI, NASA, ESA, several others Sea Ice NSIDC, NERSC, DTU, DMI, AWI, NOAA, several others Permafrost GTN-P, IPA NSIDC, several others Note: WMO bodies such as GCW or CEOS WG Climate are not actively coordinating cryospheric observations nor are they compiling & disseminating corresponding data. Information from GCOS 2016 IP & other sources

Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers (GTN-G) intro ¦ science vs monitoring ¦ gcos ¦ gtn-g ¦ conclusions Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers (GTN-G) Steering Committee Advisory Board Executive Board World Glacier Monitoring Service US National Snow and Ice Data Center Global Land Ice Measurements from Space GTN-G

All glacier data is freely available from GTN-G website intro ¦ science vs monitoring ¦ gcos ¦ gtn-g ¦ conclusions All glacier data is freely available from GTN-G website http://www.gtn-g.org

Copernicus: Europe’s eyes on Earth intro ¦ science vs monitoring ¦ gcos ¦ gtn-g ¦ conclusions Copernicus: Europe’s eyes on Earth http://climate.copernicus.eu/

Requirements for an Arctic Observation System intro ¦ science vs monitoring ¦ gcos ¦ gtn-g ¦ conclusions Requirements for an Arctic Observation System Identify the phenomena that are important Snow, sea ice, glaciers, ice sheets, permafrost, river and lake ice Formulate observation requirements Climate-related monitoring requires >30 years of observations Challenges in building long-term observing systems Long-term funding Logistics; international coordination & collaboration What is needed to build and operate Support existing long-term observation series Fill gaps in pan-Arctic observing system (e.g. Russian Arctic) Share all data through existing international data centres