1. Global Cryosphere Watch
Jeff Key
NOAA
USA
GCW Tropical Cryosphere Workshop
Arusha, Tanzania
4-6 July 2017

2. The cryosphere collectively describes elements of the earth system containing water in its frozen state and includes:
solid precipitation, snow cover, sea ice, lake and river ice, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, ice shelves, permafrost and seasonally frozen ground.
The cryosphere is global, ~100 countries

3. A Changing Cryosphere is Important
Changes in the cryosphere can have significant impacts on water supply, transportation, infrastructure, hunting, fisheries, recreation, and ecology.
Sea level rise threatens vital infrastructure.
Changes in sea ice affect access to the polar oceans and resources, tourism, and security. Declining summer sea-ice affects ocean circulation and weather patterns.
Natural hazards such as icebergs, avalanches and glacier outburst floods create risks.
Permafrost thawing impacts infrastructure and is potentially a major source of methane, a greenhouse gas.
Changes in the cryosphere impact water supply, food production, freshwater ecosystems, hydropower production, and the risk of floods and droughts.
Retreating sea ice results in a loss of habitat for mammals such as polar bears and seals.
Manhattan figure from

4. We need high quality observations for… Climate monitoring and assessment

5. ...data assimilation and NWP…
Comparison of snow water equivalent (SWE) for the no SWE simulation (green), the assimilation simulation (red), and the in situ measurements (black) averaged over all SNOTEL sites in the study region.

6. …and operational applications

7. GCW Mission
GCW will provide authoritative, clear, and useable data, information, and analyses on the past, current and future state of the cryosphere.
GCW includes:
Observations – surface network, best practices, requirements
Products – satellite products and intercomparisons
Information and services – monitoring and assessment
Data access and distribution through its Data Portal

8. GCW Development History
First GCW Implementation Workshop (Geneva)
First Snow Watch workshop (Toronto)
Operational (2020)
Pre-operational
( )
Tropical Cryosphere Workshop (Tanzania)
CryoNet Team meeting (Reykjavik)
WMO 15th Congress welcomes proposal for GCW
WMO 16th Congress approves GCW development
First CryoNet workshop (Vienna)
Cg-17 GCW Implement. … …
2007
2008
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2020
Asia CryoNet workshop (Beijing)
IGOS Cryosphere Theme Report published
South America CryoNet workshop
Second Asia CryoNet workshop (Salekhard, Russia)

9. Organization: GCW Conceptual Framework
The WMO Executive Council expert panel on Polar Observations, Research, and Services (EC-PORS) oversees GCW.

10. Information and Services
Portal
Website and
Outreach
Terminology
Information and Services
Working Group
South America
Regional Group
Asia
Regional Group
Tropical Cryosphere
Regional Group
Steering Group
This version valid starting March 2017 (EC-PHORS-7)
Observations
Working Group
Integrated Products
Working Group
CryoNet
Best Practices
Sea Ice Products
Snow Watch

11. What is GCW doing?
developing a network of surface observations called "CryoNet", which builds on existing networks;
developing measurement guidelines and best practices;
refining observational requirements for the WMO Rolling Review of Requirements;
engaging in and supporting, intercomparisons of products, e.g., the GCW Snow Watch project;
creating unique products, e.g., the SWE Tracker, in collaboration with partners;
building a cryosphere glossary;
providing up-to-date information on the state of the cryosphere;
providing access to data through a portal;
contributing to WMO’s space-based capabilities database (with PSTG);
engaging in historical data rescue (e.g., snow depth);
developing international training and outreach materials;
co-sponsoring workshops.

12. A robust cryosphere observing system includes in situ and satellite measurements

13. Mocho-Choshuenco Volcano
GCW Surface Network
CryoNet station
CryoNet site
Contributing station
Mocho-Choshuenco Volcano
Tiksi
Sigma-A

14. CryoNet – the core GCW Network
…an immediate priority in GCW development.
CryoNet is one part of the GCW observing system, which is a component observing system of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS).
CryoNet covers all components of the cryosphere (glaciers, ice shelves, ice sheets, snow, permafrost, sea ice, river/lake ice) through an extensive approach of in-situ observations.
Extensive monitoring of cryosphere through GCW agreed (standardized) practices for cryospheric observations.
CryoNet is initially comprised of existing stations/sites, rather than creating new sites. 14

15. CryoNet - Structure
To meet different user-needs and because of the spatially distributed nature of different components of the cryosphere the CryoNet network of in-situ observations is structured into observational stations and sites. 15

16. CryoNet Station Minimum Requirements

17. CryoNet Measurements: Required, Recommended, Desired
To ensure a unique, high-quality network of surface observations, stations and sites are evaluated for inclusion in CryoNet based on several factors. Fulfilling the minimum requirements does not in itself guarantee acceptance as a CryoNet station. Other criteria that are considered by the CryoNet Team when evaluating applications include (1) the number of recommended variables that are measured (see the lists), (2) the continuity and length of the data record, (3) the extent to which data are available and accessible, (4) sustainability of the station, (5) conformity to GCW best practices, and (6) the location and representativeness of the proposed station relative to the geographic distribution of existing CryoNet stations.
This is the variable list for snow. All lists are on the GCW website.

18. Measurement standards and practices
“IUGG urges snow and ice scientists, practitioners, and scientists from related
disciplines to adopt these new schemes as standards.”

19. GCW Surface Network: Snow and Permafrost

20. GCW Surface Network: Glaciers and Ice Sheets

21. GCW Surface Network: Sea and Freshwater Ice
Sea Ice
Freshwater Ice

22. The GCW Surface Network: All
All CryoNet and contributing stations, both approved and candidate
Gaps

23. Organizations Contributing to the GCW Surface Network
Universities, Research, and Other
Organizations
Arctic Institute of North America
Universidad de Chile
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
Université Grenoble Alpes - Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l'Environnement
Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
ENEA – CNR: National Research Council of Italy
Okayama University, Japan
National Institute for Polar Research, Japan
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF Davos, Switzerland
Appalachian State University, USA
Argentine Navy
Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales
Geocryology, Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales
Huilo Huilo Foundation
NMHSs
Argentine National Meteorological Service
Australian Bureau of Meteorology
ZAMG (Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics, Austria)
Federal Hydrometeorological Institute Bosnia-Hertzegovina
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Base de datos del Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología (INAMHI-Ecuador
Finnish Meterological Institute (FMI)
Météo-France – CNRS
Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO)
Department of Hydrometeorology Nepal in collaboration with National Academy of science and Technology
Pakistan Meteorological Department
AEMET (Spain)
NOAA
Engagements and Partnerships: NMHSs and research, academia.

24. Polar Space Task Group (PSTG)
PSTG was established in 2011 under auspices of EC-PHORS.
PSTG members nominated by Heads of space agencies.
Objectives:
Provide coordination across space agencies
Provide support to development of products for cryospheric research and applications
Seek realization of benefits from the growing constellation of polar orbiting satellites
(Credit: Nagler et al., 2016)

25. GCW-PSTG Synergy
GCW‘s Snow Watch began a snow product intercomparison project, which was expanded through ESA‘s SnowPEX project.
~1200 Gt
GlobSnow SWE estimate
Models vs. satellite-based products

26. Other GCW Products and Services
Trackers
Assessments
Snow product inventory
Glossary

27. Requirements and Capability for observations
GCW Requirements are being formulated and documented on the GCW website;
They will draw from various sets of existing user requirements and will be vetted by the scientific community;
Those requirements will become part of the WMO Rolling Review of Requirements (RRR);
Will be accessible through the Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review Tool (OSCAR), the official source for WMO requirements, which has a cryosphere theme;
Need for a new application area “GCW”.

28. GCW Data Portal gcw.met.no Is part of WIS (WMO Information System);
Is interoperable with a distributed network of data centers and users
Connecting a heterogeneous community of data providers
gcw.met.no

29. Information Website
The website differs from the METNO GCW data portal in that it contains more dynamic information (news, state of the cryosphere plots, highlights, calendar), as well as background, higher-level information, GCW documents, and outreach material. It links to the METNO data portal.
globalcryospherewatch.org

30. 69th Session of the WMO Executive Council
(EC-69, May 2017)
Requests:
Members to continue contributing to the development and implementation of the GCW surface observing network, by proposing additional CryoNet stations in polar and high mountain regions, to provide better coverage for all cryosphere components (e.g. snow, solid precipitation, glaciers, ice, permafrost, sea ice, river/lake ice).

31. Why be a part of the GCW Surface Network?
Being a GCW station means being part of an international, operational, global observing system providing observations of known quality for research and knowledge beyond a site’s local region.
Being part of a global network not only brings better visibility, but also a recognition of the importance of the observations made at your station.
This in turn can bring better support, either funding or logistical support.
GCW promotes the exchange of knowledge and data, so GCW stations may see broader use of their data and products.