1. 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

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

3. 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)

4. 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!

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Copernicus: Europe’s eyes on Earth
intro ¦ science vs monitoring ¦ gcos ¦ gtn-g ¦ conclusions
Copernicus: Europe’s eyes on Earth

11. 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