During the meeting, Dr. Johannes Cullmann, WMO Water and Cryosphere Coordinator, described GCW/WMO’s vision of building an integrated global cryosphere information system that would integrate existing observation and modeling efforts while allowing for long-term continuous data records for future researchers. TPE Co-chair Prof. YAO Tandong echoed this approach and introduced recent progress TPE has made in assessing the Third Pole cryosphere in terms of area and volume through STEP and Pan-TPE, two TPE-related science programs. Prof. Deliang CHEN, member of the TPE executive committee and August Rohss Chair at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), proposed possible ways of integrating existing TPE efforts with the potential global cryosphere information system. 

 

TPE has long worked to promote integration of observation and modeling efforts, which is key to the GCW/WMO conception of a global cryosphere information system. Both parties agreed that TPE’s pioneering efforts and GCW/WMO’s global network will greatly inform joint efforts to build a global cryosphere information system down the road. The two parties also discussed other progress made following the MoU signing, including partnerships with other relevant organizations and policy outreach mechanisms.