1. Global Cryosphere Watch Developing Synergies at Global Level
INARCH Workshop
Grenoble, Oct 18, 2016
Rodica Nitu
GCW, Project Manager
WMO
globalcryospherewatch.org

2. Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) Mission
INARCH 2015
In order to provide warning of the impacts of climate on downstream water resources,
INARCG finds an urgent need for enhancing mountain hydrometeorological and cryospheric observations with open availability of data, and reduced measurement uncertainty.
INARCH has identified a series of mountain hydrometeorological observatories around the world, and promote enhanced mountain observations and data publications.
Uncertainty and Models
Climate change
Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) Mission
To provide authoritative, understandable, and useable data, information, and analyses on the past, current and future state of the cryosphere to meet the needs of WMO Members and partners in delivering services to users, the media, public, decision and policy makers.

3. CryoNet 2016
WMO GCW At a glance:
CryoNet: high quality, standardized observations of:
(i) snow and solid precipitation,
(ii) sea ice, lake and river ice,
(iii) glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets and ice shelves,
(iv) permafrost and seasonally frozen ground.
GCW Data Portal: metadata and data
Facilitate data access, enabling consistent formats.
Data resides in its original location while metadata are exchanged.
Interoperability between data centres is essential.
GCW Website: providing free access to:
Manuals and Guides of Best Practices (observations, data, metadata, data policies)
Glossary of terms and outreach material
Data products, news and “hot topics” on the state of the cryosphere
Data Portal: an interface between

4. GCW Activities (what is GCW doing, or what’s happening that may not otherwise happen)
ENGAGEMENTS
Brings together Met Organizations, research, space agencies, other organizations (e.g. UNESCO);
giving observational programs done by research institutes/networks and monitoring programs done by research institutions (and not by NHMSs) more relevance and better recognition at the national level thus helping to get financial support and sustainability on the long term.

5. GCW GOVERNANCE and WORKING STRUCTURE(
Asia Regional Group estab 2016
South America Regional Group
2017
Africa Regional Group Tropical Glaciers
2017
Partners:
Met Services; Satellite Agencies;
Data Centers;
International Organizations;
Specialized Agencies
Executive Council (EC)
EC PHORS
GCW
Steering Group (GSG)
Coordination Office
Information and analysis ((anomaly tracking , hot spots, variability and change, global and regional products
Portal and website: integrated data and information
Outreach, education capacity building\Users and applications: research, operational and services centers, security, impacts, adaptation
Information&
Services (Portal, Outreach, Training, Glossary) WG
Integrated
Products (Snow Watch, Glaciers, Sea Ice) WG
Observations (CryoNet, Best Practices) WG

6. GCW Activities (what is GCW doing, or what’s happening that may not otherwise happen)
OBSERVATIONS:
Developing a network of surface observations, which builds on existing networks, at its core the "CryoNet“ operating on defined observing standards;
Establishing and promoting measurement guidelines and best practices;
Refining observational requirements as an integral part of the WMO RRR;
Engaging in and supporting intercomparisons of instruments and products, e.g., the GCW Snow Watch or CIMO SPICE project;
Enhancing near real-time snow depth observation on the GTS/WIS and reporting of zero snow depth;
Facilitate the development of high elevation cryosphere observational sites for inclusion into CryoNet (above 4000m a.s.l.)

7. GCW Activities (what is GCW doing, or what’s happening that may not otherwise happen)
PRODUCTS:
Promote and develop standards of metadata and data format (at international level);
Contributing to WMO’s space-based capabilities database (with PSTG);
Evaluation/intercomparison of satellite snow products initiated with ESA (SnowPEX);
Producing unique hemispheric products, e.g., “snow anomaly trackers” for SCE and SWE in collaboration with partners;
Engaging in historical data rescue (e.g., snow depth);
Building an integrated glossary of cryospheric terms;
Developing international training, outreach materials;
Providing up-to-date information on the state of the cryosphere (through GCW Website);
Providing access to data and metadata (through a GCW Data Portal).

11. CryoNet Asia Workshops 2016, Salekhard, Russian Federation Feb 2017, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
2016 Workshop Outcome
Engagements
Significant interest: regional working group established.
Observational Gap for over m a.s.l.: minimum 15 new stations (automatic): meteorological and cryosphere measurements.
Data and metadata via satellite transmission.
Existing capacity: potential candidate stations (various capabilities)
Nepal, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russian Federation;
UNESCO
University of Idaho, NOAA;
Chinese Academy of Science; CMA
Mountain Research Initiative, PERMOS: Switzerland;
National Research Council of Italy;
Nagoya University (Japan);
Finish Meteorological Institute;
EMETSAT
World Bank
PERMOS: Swiss permafrost monitoring network

12. Global Precipitation Climatology Centre
GCW partners:
Collaboration and cooperation with partners is essential to successfully conduct GCW activities at the international, regional and national levels. Partners include, but not limited to:
Global Precipitation Climatology Centre

13. GCW sponsors: