Observing systems and data sets related to the cryosphere in canada: A contribution to planning for the global climate observing system

Abstract

The current status and history of observing systems for snow cover, sea and freshwater ice, glaciers, ice caps, ground ice and permafrost in Canada are reviewed as part of a contribution to the WMO’s Global Climate Observing System program. The data requirements that have been identified by previous discussion groups for different research, change detection and monitoring purposes are summarized. Problem areas in data collection and processing, as well as gaps in the observing/data systems, are illustrated and the status of cryospheric data archives relating to Canada, and data distribution, are discussed. The present status is considered to be unsatisfactory in a number of respects for the different cryospheric variables important for global change research. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.