1. GCW Regional Workshops
Summary of
GCW Regional Workshops
Jeff Key1
Wolfgang Schöner2
Cunde Xiao3
1NOAA, USA
2University of Graz, Austria
3Chinese Met. Admin.
GCW Tropical Cryosphere Workshop
Arusha, Tanzania
4-6 July 2017

2. GCW Regional Workshops
Previous GCW regional workshops:
First Asia CryoNet Workshop – Beijing, December 2013
South America CryoNet Workshop - Santiago, Chile, October 2014
Second Asia CryoNet Workshop - Salekhard, Russia, February 2016
and now the
GCW Tropical Cryosphere Workshop - Arusha, Tanzania, July 2017
The Asia and South America ”regions” correspond roughly, but not exactly, to the WMO Regions

3. First CryoNet Asia Workshop
Beijing, China, December 2013
The First GCW CryoNet Asia was hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) at China Meteorology Administration (CMA) in Beijing, China 3-5 December 2013.
17 International experts from 14 countries
7 Experts from CMA
23 Experts from CAS
Participants were from China, Pakistan, India, Japan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, USA, Canada, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.

4. First CryoNet Asia Workshop: Purpose
The purpose of the workshop was to continue efforts in implementing CryoNet with an emphasis on the measurement sites, observations, and issues in Asia with a focus on the "Third Pole" (Himalaya) region. Topics:
Aims and need for CryoNet
Classification of the CryoNet station network
Selection procedure of CryoNet stations
Measurement standards
Data policy within CryoNet
Suggestion of showcase projects
Sustainability of CryoNet sites

5. Pre-meeting Questionnaire
How could GCW-CryoNet help meet your national, regional or global interests?
What could you or your organization contribute to the implementation of GCW-CryoNet?
What do you see as the benefits of CryoNet: (e.g. for operational and research network operators, scientific and decision/policy making community, environmental monitoring and modelling, scientists, satellite data providers, etc.)?
What do you see as existing gaps in cryospheric observations (e.g. thematic, spatial, temporal, availability, exchange, data policy, etc.) and how might CryoNet address these?
Please prioritize CryoNet activities according your personal view (select High/Medium/Low):
Establishment of CryoNet tier#1-tier#4 network
Establishment of supersite network
Harmonisation of cryospheric network
Standards, guidelines and training for observations
Inter-comparison experiments (e.g. sensors, methods)
Cooperation with existing networks
Data policy on archiving, accessibility and exchange
Support national needs.
Please share any other thoughts for participant to consider at the meeting.

6. First CryoNet Asia Workshop: Outcomes
Major outcomes of the workshop can be summarized as follow:
Reviewed existing observation sites/observatories over the “Third Pole” region.
Achievements and gaps in observations were identified.
Defined the boundary of Asia CryoNet not limited to Third Pole only, but whole Asia except Arctic.
Set up guidelines for how Asia CryoNet is being organized.
For some stations/sites, focal points were listed.
Pursue continuous support and upgrade observations in Third Pole region towards GCW standard.

7. CryoNet South America Workshop

8. South America CryoNet Meeting Key aims:
To engage the South American cryosphere community and to introduce them to the aims and potential of GCW
To extend CryoNet by getting commitments of existing stations/sites measuring the cryosphere to contribute to GCW and CryoNet
Establishing a regional GCW CryoNet group and to include the expertises of its members into GCW

9. South America CryoNet Meeting Background
Participants: from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Austria, Canada, France, Iceland, Switzerland, USA – strong co-operation among SA/LA countries already which strengthened discussion
Feedback with respect to cryospheric observation and monitoring:
Implementation of tiered network
High need for standards and guidelines in cryospheric observations (many counts)
Serve science and practitioners
Cooperate with existing networks
Fill gaps in existing networks
Data policy and data provision
General and site questionnaires were completed by participants.

10. National Representatives:

11. Further important points discussed:
• Data archiving, data policy and data sharing
• Further building of CryoNet South America
• Management of CryoNet South America

12. Initial list of CryoNet stations and sites in SA for pre-operational testing

13. Agreements and Action Points:

14. Second Asia CryoNet Workshop
Salekhard, Russia, February 2016
The workshop was held at the Administration of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YaNAO). The workshop was organized by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) of Roshydromet and YaNAO.

15. Second Asia CryoNet Workshop
There were 38 workshop participants, including scientists from 10 Members of WMO Regional Association II (RA-II) and some GCW experts from other Regions.

16. Outcomes of the Second Asia Workshop
Cryosphere observational activities in Asia were reviewed.
An inventory of measurement methods and standards used in the region was compiled.
New instrument
More than 20 sites in the "Third Pole" (Himalaya) region and Siberia were proposed as new CryoNet sites.
The formation of a more formal Asia regional (GCW) group was proposed. It will include representatives for the Arctic, sub-Arctic, High Mountain/Tibet, High Mountain/Tibet/Pamir, and High Mountain/Himalaya.
Terms of Reference for the Asia GCW group were drafted.
Members were nominated.

17. Proposed Stations

18. Fieldwork
Fieldwork at a site on the river Ob one morning focused on the measurement of fresh water river ice and snow.

19. That brings us to the Tropical Cryosphere
Seasonal cryosphere, in the form of snow, exists on the highest peaks of East Africa as well as in the Drakensburg Range of South Africa, the Lesotho Mountains, and the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.  The only existing African glaciers today are on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya, and three glacier systems in the Rwenzori (“Mountains of the Moon”) between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 
Ice fields near Punkak Jaya, Carstensz Glacier, (~1.7 square km), the last remaining glaciers in the West Pacific region.
The tropical Andes are host to more than 99% of all tropical glaciers between Peru (71%), Bolivia (20%), Ecuador (4%) and Colombia–Venezuela (4%).

20. WMO Congress and EC Decisions
CG-17:
Congress requested EC to coordinate high mountain activities in the Tropical regions.
Congress recognized the importance of joint research between developed and developing countries, especially for Members in the tropics, to have the opportunity to study polar condition and its interaction with tropical regions.
EC-68:
Decision 51 endorsed the organization of regional workshops on high- mountain areas, including tropical regions, with a view of identifying high- mountain sites and assess them for potential inclusion as part of the GCW surface observing network, and its core, CryoNet;
GCW must develop an effective capacity-building strategy…which would assist countries in improving and sustaining observation and exchange of cryospheric data and information. For example, information on… climate in tropical and sub-tropical regions has been identified by Members as a need to which GCW can contribute.

21. igh mountain regions shall be defined as:
“mountain areas where seasonal or perennial cryosphere is present and poses potential and serious risks to society related to water security and disaster resilience”
>> Risk (taken as Occurence x Exposure x Vulnerability
>> Triggered, one person, above main train track to Davos & nearby habitations
>> Occurence = Period of return x (size)Hazard

22. Goals of the Tropical Cryosphere Workshop
Identify country and region specific
challenges related to shrinking glaciers, changes in the distribution of snowfall, and other related changes in the cryosphere;
current activities, by national or international organizations, focusing on monitoring cryosphere components;
opportunities for improved monitoring and representation of changes in the cryosphere, including data exchange and services.
opportunities for further collaboration and engagements between national and international organizations.

23. Expected Outcomes
Recommendations for candidate stations for the GCW surface observing network (existing or required);
Opportunities for data rescue, improved data exchange, policy harmonization;
Recommendations for additional activities and services to address noted challenges.
Strategies for capacity building, at national and regional level.