ITS2.12/CR7.6 | Atmosphere-Cryosphere Interactions in Mountain and High-Latitude Environments
EDI PICO
Atmosphere-Cryosphere Interactions in Mountain and High-Latitude Environments
Convener: Pavla Dagsson WaldhauserovaECSECS | Co-conveners: Thomas Shaw, Outi Meinander, Ivana Stiperski, Christina DraegerECSECS, Marie Dumont, Arindan MandalECSECS

Understanding the scale-dependent interactions of the atmosphere and the mountain cryosphere are critical for estimating the response of snow and ice to ongoing climate change. A lack of observational data and/or process understanding in high mountain regions creates substantial uncertainties with respect to future cryospheric change and how it may react to climatic variability, climatic extremes and long-term warming. Most of the cryospheric areas have undergone severe changes in last decades while such areas have been more fragile and less adaptable to global climate changes. This joint cryosphere-atmosphere session invites observational-, model- and remote sensing-based investigations on any aspects of linkages between atmospheric processes and snow and ice on local, regional and global scales.

This session aims to address the current challenges, methodological approaches and wider relevance of observing and modelling cryosphere-atmosphere interactions at varying scales in mountain and high latitude environments. A significant focus is also given to the role of aerosols and dust transportation in determining changes in the cryosphere. We welcome contributions including, but not limited to, the characterisation and quantification of glacier/snow boundary layer exchanges, observations and modelling of katabatic winds and turbulent structures over the mountain cryosphere, dust-organisms interactions, cryoconite, bio-albedo, eco-physiological studies, the role of glaciers in valley circulation systems, the cryosphere and elevation-dependent warming, light absorbing impurities and the darkening of glaciers, advances in atmospheric modelling and/or meteorological downscaling over high elevation snow and ice or the representation of glacier meteorology in numerical weather models or models of snow/glacier energy/mass. The scientific understanding of the atmosphere-cryosphere interactions needs to be addressed better and linked to the global climate prediction scenarios.