DOI: 10.5443/11397
title: Variability and change in the Canadian cryosphere (snow and ice) - A Canadian contribution to "State and Fate of the Cryosphere"

description: New satellite-derived observations of the cryosphere are being developed by Canadian scientists to contribute a snapshot of the current state of the cryosphere in northern Canada and to generate new information, data sets and monitoring capabilities for tundra and alpine snow cover, seasonal frozen ground, lake ice, albedo, land cover and phenology, snow melt characteristics over ice caps, sea ice fluxes through the Arctic islands, and river ice monitoring in northern Québec. Field campaigns are essential for these satellite retrieval activities, and to provide unique observations on characteristics of the cryosphere. Since April 2007, several field campaigns involving both ground-based surveys of snow cover, glaciers and ice caps, river ice and frozen ground characteristics and aircraft remote sensing have taken place across northern Canada (Yukon, NWT, northern Québec, Nunavut and Labrador). These field measurement data sets are an important Canadian contribution to the IPY ¿snapshot¿ by providing key information on the state of the cryosphere in northern Canada and an important baseline for assessing future changes. Many residents in northern Canada depend on frozen rivers and sea ice for transportation routes by snowmobile and sled in order to carry out traditional hunting and fishing activities. Outreach activities with northern communities are focussed on providing new information on current river ice and sea ice conditions in their local area to assist residents in planning safe navigation routes. The development of specialized river ice and sea ice floe edge map products based on satellite radar images has been achieved through the integration of science and traditional knowledge.
description: Purpose: This project is focused on providing a Canadian contribution to the International Polar Year (IPY)-endorsed activity ¿State and Fate of the Cryosphere¿ supported by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) project as a framework for observing and understanding the current state of the cryosphere, to determine how quickly the cryosphere is changing and why, and to develop future scenarios of the cryosphere for use in impacts studies and planning. The research activities involve investigating the current state and past change of the cryosphere (snow, lake and river ice, sea ice, frozen ground glaciers and ice caps) through analysis of satellite data/images, field measurements and historical data records. Projections of future climate change will be evaluated and enhanced by improving the representation of the cryosphere in Canadian climate models, and traditional knowledge will be linked with remotely-sensed information to enhance understanding of changes in the cryosphere and to engage northern communities in cryospheric monitoring. These objectives are achieved through the research activities of a network of 33 investigators with Canadian expertise in remote sensing of the cryosphere, climate analysis, and climate modeling. The project builds on Canadian strengths in remote sensing, climate analysis and modeling and will: (1) provide information on the current state of the Canadian cryosphere during IPY as a contribution to the IPY snapshot; (2) place current cryospheric conditions in the context of the historical record to document the magnitude of changes over the 50 years since the last International Polar Year (IGY 1957-1958); (3) characterize and explain the observed variability and changes in the context of the coupled climate-cryosphere system; and (4) improve the representation of the cryosphere in Canadian land surface and climate models to provide current and future climate simulations of the cryosphere for climate impact studies. In order to address the above science objectives, the project is organized as four Work Packages (WP): WP1, Enhanced cryospheric information contributing to the IPY snapshot; WP2, Cryosphere-climate variability; WP3, Improved representation of Arctic cryospheric processes in the Canadian Land Surface Scheme (CLASS); and WP4, Global and regional scale simulations of the cryosphere.
description: Summary: Cryosphere is a term that refers to all surfaces formed by frozen water, including lake, river, and sea ice, snow covers, frozen ground glaciers and ice caps. Through the analysis and linking of satellite data/images, field measurements, historical data records and traditional knowledge, this project is evaluating the Canadian cryosphere to determine how it has evolved over time and what it looks like today. Monitoring of such features as tundra and alpine snow cover, seasonal frozen ground, lake ice, albedo or the surface reflection of the sun, vegetation, wildlife, snow melt and sea/river ice dynamics have been carried out. This information will be used to produce models to predict future change and help northern communities navigate the changing landscape.