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International Polar Year 2007–2008 - WMO

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414<br />

IPY 20 07–20 08<br />

Global Cryosphere Watch – an IPY<br />

Legacy<br />

The Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) was<br />

stimulated by several initiatives, in addition to the<br />

IGOS Cryosphere Theme, all of which identified<br />

the urgent need for a sustained, robust end-toend<br />

cryosphere observing and monitoring system,<br />

not only for polar regions, but also globally, These<br />

included the “Scope of Science for the IPY <strong>2007–2008</strong>”<br />

produced by IPY Joint Committee, IPCC WG1 and WG2<br />

reports, the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA)<br />

and the 2nd Conference on Arctic Research Planning<br />

(ICARPII), Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks<br />

(SAON) and <strong>WMO</strong>’s desire for integrated observations<br />

of the polar environment as part of its establishment<br />

of integrated observing systems over the globe. The<br />

Fifteenth World Meteorological Congress (Cg-XV, May<br />

2007) supported the concept of establishing a Global<br />

Cryosphere Watch as a <strong>WMO</strong> legacy of IPY <strong>2007–2008</strong>.<br />

A <strong>WMO</strong> ad-hoc expert team on GCW (Geneva,<br />

December, 2008) explored the feasibility of such a<br />

global system and prepared recommendations for<br />

its development. The GCW, in its full/comprehensive<br />

concept, would include observation, monitoring,<br />

assessment, product development, prediction and<br />

related research. It should build on and integrate what<br />

is being done already. It should provide authoritative,<br />

clear, understandable and useable information on<br />

the past, current and future state of the cryosphere<br />

for use by the science community, decision and<br />

Fig. 3.7-2. Antarctic<br />

snow accumulation<br />

over Antarctica from<br />

merged satellite-in<br />

situ observations.<br />

(IGOS Report 2007, 49,<br />

courtesy of British Antarctic<br />

Survey)<br />

policy makers, media, and the public. Response<br />

from widespread consultation within <strong>WMO</strong>, with the<br />

National Meteorological and Hydrological Services<br />

and other potential partners, organizations, agencies<br />

and the scientific community was very positive.<br />

To develop an effective GCW, the expert team<br />

agreed on some basic principles and characteristics<br />

for the initiative. GCW:<br />

• would be a mechanism for implementing IGOS<br />

Cryosphere Theme (CryOS);<br />

• should ensure a comprehensive, coordinated and<br />

sustainable system of cryospheric observations<br />

and information, and access to related information<br />

to allow full understanding of the cryosphere and<br />

its changes;<br />

• should initiate a comprehensive cryosphere<br />

observing network “CryoNet”, a network of<br />

reference sites in cold climate regions operating<br />

a sustained, standard program for observation<br />

and monitoring changes in components of the<br />

cryosphere for developing and validating models<br />

and remote sensing products, and producing<br />

valuable long-term records, while covering key<br />

areas of the globe with cryospheric observations;<br />

• will be based on the premise that agreed-upon<br />

standards, recommended practices and procedures<br />

will apply to the cryospheric observing systems.<br />

Where these do not currently exist, GCW would work<br />

with <strong>WMO</strong> and partners to develop appropriate<br />

best practices, guidelines and standards. This

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