Mountain cryospheric studies and the WCRP climate and cryosphere (CliC) project

Abstract A new element of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) has been inaugurated addressing the role of the cryosphere in climate. A Science and Co-ordination Plan has been issued for the Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) project. Topics of concern for high mountain hydrology are; ice caps and glaciers, seasonal snow cover, freshwater ice, and seasonally frozen ground and permafrost. The principal scientific questions relating to the cryosphere in mountain regions are reviewed. CliC wil also examine the role of cryospheric components as indicators of climate variability and change building on ongoing programs of glacier and permaforst monitoring. The impacts of global change on elements of the cryosphere in mountains are expected to have significant social and economic ramifications. Examples of needs and initiatives in these areas are also presented.