Impacts of a Changing Cryosphere

Transcription

1 Global Cryosphere Watch World Meteorological Organization! Global Cryosphere Watch! World Meteorological Meteorological Organization World Organization! Impacts of a Changing Cryosphere Changes in the cryosphere can have significant impacts on water supply, transporta4on, infrastructure, hun4ng, fisheries, recrea4on, and ecology. Sea level rise threatens vital infrastructure, se1lements and facili4es of small island states and low- lying coastal zones. Manhattan with 8 m flooding Changes in sea- ice affect access to the polar oceans and surrounding seas, in turn affec4ng economic development, accessibility to resources, naviga4on, tourism, marine safety and security. Declining summer sea- ice may also impact ocean circula4on and weather pa1erns in the mid- la4tudes. Natural hazards such as icebergs, avalanches and glacier outburst floods create risks for transporta4on, tourism and economic development. Retrea4ng sea ice results in a loss of habitat for mammals such as polar bears and seals.

2 Permafrost thawing impacts infrastructure and is poten4ally a major source of methane, a greenhouse gas. Changes in the cryosphere have major impacts on water supply, food produc4on, availability of potable water, freshwater ecosystems, hydropower produc4on, and the risk of floods and droughts. Disappearing glaciers change fish habitat. Cryospheric data and informa4on are required for improved numerical weather and climate predic4on, a necessary step in assessing future impacts. GCW will provide the informa4on needed to be1er assess impacts of a changing cryosphere on society. Figure Credits. p.1 (top left-anticlockwise): Leszek Pawlowicz, Canadian Ice Service; IGOS Cryosphere Theme Report, 2007; Roger Braithwaite; Chris Hopkinson (CCIN); Terry Prowse (Environment Canada); Claude Duguay (CCIN); Helga P. Finnsdottir (Iceland); United Nations Environment Programme; Henry Huntington (Alaska); p.2 (top left-anticlockwise): Canadian Cryosphere Information Network/CRYSYS; CRYSYS; Spyros Beltaos (Environment Canada); Uzhydromet; Gita Laidler (CRYSYS); Jeff Key (NOAA); Monique Bernier (CRYSYS); Terry Prowse; bottom graph: James Overland (NOAA).

3 World Meteorological Organization Global Cryosphere Watch Observing The Cryosphere A comprehensive cryosphere observing system must be a combina4on of ground- based instrumenta4on, satellite remote sensing, aircra: measurements, modeling, and data management. Condi4ons in areas where the cryosphere exists are harsh, and in situ observa4ons there are difficult and expensive. Satellite monitoring overcomes some of the logis4cal obstacles, but satellites are costly and do not yet fully address the range of geophysical variables needed to understand the cryosphere. Surface and airborne observa4ons provide data that cannot be measured from space, more detailed informa4on in cri4cal areas, and observa4ons with which to validate satellite retrievals.

4 The complex system of satellites is essen4al for delivering sustained, consistent observa4ons of the global cryosphere and are a key to extending local in situ measurements. No one all- encompassing sensor exists; rather, the combina4on and synthesis of data from different yet complementary sensors is essen4al, and underlines the cri4cal importance of maintaining key synerge4c elements of the system. Similarly, surface- based measurements take many forms. Some are opera4onal with semi- permanent infrastructure; others may be mobile and cover a short 4me span. Together, in situ, satellite, and aircra: measurements cover all scales of observa4on, providing the data needed for small- scale process studies and global climate predic4on. As robust as the cryosphere observing system is, many surface- based observa4on networks have been reduced and some, decommissioned. Monitoring efforts are in need of sustained funding. Space- based capabili4es for some snow/ice proper4es are extremely limited. There needs to be a concerted effort to improve and expand systema5c, comprehensive, ground- based monitoring, and to support development of remote sensing methods. Figure Credits. p.1 left side, counterclockwise: SHEBA; Chinese Meteorological Administration; John Cassano (U Colorado); NOAA/NOHRSC; NASA; p.2 left side, counterclockwise: Jan Bottenheim (Environment Canada); Waleed Abdalati, NASA; WMO/WIGOS.

5 World Meteorological Organization Global Cryosphere Watch GCW Portal Bridging the Gap: The Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) aims to establish a sustained, global, robust, end- to- end cryosphere observing and monitoring system. A major issue for GCW is improved exchange of, access to, and u6liza6on of observa6ons and products from WMO and other observing systems. Establishing interoperability between data management systems suppor6ng cryospheric data directly addresses GCW objec6ves. Rather than trying to establish the one and only portal, a solution linking existing catalogues and portals is more sustainable. Data resides in its original location while metadata are exchanged. Func2onal Requirements: Users of cryospheric data, products and informa6on should be able to easily find what they need. The portal requires both human and machine interfaces. While discovery and access to data is the primary func6on of any portal, users request more advanced func6onality, like visualisa6on, transforma6on, reformaong, and re- projec6on of datasets as part of the data mining ac6vity. The GCW web portal will make GCW data and informa6on available to WMO Members, their partners, and users while providing the ability to exchange data and informa6on among a distributed network of providers of data and products. The portal, as a part of WIS, will allow for rapid exchange of data, metadata, informa6on, and analyses.

6 Linking Infrastructure: WMO is establishing the WMO Informa6on System (WIS), ICSU is revitalising the World Data System (WDS), and ICSU/CODATA is establishing the Polar Informa6on Commons. These systems tend to be tailored to specific communi6es but contain relevant data for cryosphere scien6sts globally. GCW aims to u6lise relevant informa6on no maper where it is located by linking and bridging exis6ng infrastructure. Datasets should be available online and metadata should refer directly to the actual dataset, although restrictions may apply to individual datasets. Pilot: GCW pilot has been set up to demonstrate some of the capabili6es that the portal might have (hpp://gcwdemo.met.no). The pilot focuses on data discovery and access. It demonstrates the concept of linking catalogues as it includes datasets hosted by the Na6onal Snow and Ice Data Center, a data centre belonging to ICSU WDS, and the Arc6c Data Center at the Norwegian Meteorological Ins6tute which is part of WIS. GCW will respect partnership, ownership and data- sharing policies of partners. Credits: Information courtesy of Øystein Godøy, Norwegian Meteorological Institute.

7 World Meteorological Organization" Global Cryosphere Watch GCW Overview GCW includes all components of the cryosphere, globally, regionally, na:onally The Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) aims to establish a sustained, global, robust, end- to- end cryosphere observing and monitoring system. GCW will provide data, informa;on and products that will help WMO Members and the wider user community to: reduce the loss of life and property from disasters; improve management of energy and water resources; contribute to a beker understanding of environmental factors affec;ng health; understand, assess, predict, mi;gate and adapt to climate variability and change; improve weather forecasts and hazard warnings; aid in management of terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems; and, support sustainable agriculture. The Cryosphere The cryosphere collec;vely describes elements of the Earth System containing water in its frozen state. It includes solid precipita;on, snow cover, sea ice, lake and river ice, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, permafrost, and seasonally frozen ground. The cryosphere exists at all la;tudes and in about one hundred countries. GCW will encompass: Requirements: Meet evolving cryospheric observing requirements of WMO Members, partners, and the scien;fic community; Integra.on: Provide a framework to assess the state of the cryosphere and its interac;ons within the Earth System, emphasizing integrated products using surface- and space- based observa;ons; Standardiza.on: Enhance the quality of observa;onal data by improving observing standards and prac;ces for the measurement of cryospheric variables; Access: Improve exchange of, access to, and u;liza;on of observa;ons and products; Coordina.on: Foster research and development ac;vi;es and coherent planning for future observing systems and global observing network op;miza;on. GCW, working with WMO Members and partners, will provide authorita;ve, clear, and useable data, informa;on, and analyses on the past, current and future state of the cryosphere to meet the needs of Members and partners in delivering services to users, the media, public, decision and policy makers. Partnering is essen+al.

8 GCW is a cross- cusng ac;vity. It will be an essen;al component of WIGOS and will coordinate cryospheric ac;vi;es with the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), enhancing GCOS support to the UNFCCC. GCW will strengthen the WMO contribu;on to the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS). Through WIGOS and the WMO Informa;on System (WIS), GCW will also provide a fundamental contribu;on to the Global Earth Observa;on System of Systems (GEOSS). GCW will engage WMO technical commissions, regional associa;ons, co- sponsored programs and other organiza;ons that have cryospheric responsibili;es. GCW partnerships are being iden;fied, including government agencies, ins;tu;ons and interna;onal bodies such as Interna;onal Permafrost Associa;on (IPA), World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS), Global Precipita;on Climatology Centre (GPCC), and the U.S. Na;onal Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Over 30 WMO Members have nominated GCW focal points to be involved in GCW development. Conceptual Framework Cryospheric data, informa;on, and products will be provided by NMHSs, partner organiza;ons and the scien;fic community. GCW will include an interface with the user community. Capacity building and training will be included throughout the framework. Expert, technical and regional task teams will be responsible for developing, implemen;ng and managing tasks. An Advisory CommiKee will steer ac;vi;es, tasks, and the establishment of teams. Ini;al key tasks iden;fied for implementa;on: Implement recommenda;ons of the IGOS Cryosphere Theme. Ini;ate pilot and demonstra;on projects. Establish cryosphere reference sites. Develop an inventory of satellite products for GCW. Develop a web portal and interoperability for cryosphere users and providers. Capacity building. Communica;on and outreach. GCW will include observa;on, monitoring, assessment, product development, predic;on, and research. It will provide the framework for reliable, comprehensive, sustained observing of the cryosphere through a coordinated and integrated approach on na;onal to global scales and deliver quality- assured global and regional products and services. GCW will organize analyses and assessments of the cryosphere to support science, decision- making and environmental policy. Credits: p1 (top-bottom) Jeff Key (NOAA); Canadian Ice Service; Don Cline (NOAA); p2 Xiao Cunde (CMA); NSIDC; SnowStar2007