❄️ Ice & Snow

The Ice & Snow sub-area deals with studying and managing ice and snow environments, which are key indicators of climate change and essential to global ecosystems. This includes monitoring glaciers, ice caps, and snow cover, and assessing their impacts on sea levels, water resources, and biodiversity. Professionals focus on understanding how temperature changes and climate change affect these systems and developing strategies to mitigate associated risks.

Ice & Snow Hydrology

Ice and snow constitute approximately 70% of the world’s fresh water. Ice and snow hydrology professionals work towards examining the distribution, movement, and effects of ice and snow on water resources and hydrological cycles. This area of study requires analyzing snowpack characteristics, ice melt patterns, and their subsequent impact on river flow and water availability. Essential skills include employing hydrological models, conducting field measurements, and interpreting data to evaluate how variations in ice and snow affect water systems.

Glacier & Ice Sheet Monitoring

Global ice loss has contributed approximately 0.8 millimeters to sea level rise per decade between 1993 and 2018. Monitoring glaciers and ice sheets involves the detailed observation and analysis of their dynamics to understand changes in ice volume, mass balance, and flow patterns. This covers leveraging satellite imagery, ground-based measurements, and remote sensing technologies to monitor ice movement, melting rates, and accumulation. Activities in this field include interpreting data from diverse monitoring tools, analyzing trends in ice loss, and forecasting potential impacts on sea levels and climate.

Polar Ecosystem Management

Managing polar ecosystems involves preserving and sustaining the unique environments and biodiversity of polar regions. This process requires monitoring the impacts of climate change, protecting sensitive species and habitats, and mitigating human activities that affect these ecosystems. Effective management necessitates conducting thorough ecological assessments, creating and implementing conservation plans, and collaborating with international organizations and local communities.

Permafrost Management

Permafrost management is the monitoring and mitigating of impacts of thawing and degradation on ecosystems and infrastructure. This process involves evaluating permafrost stability, employing engineering solutions to safeguard structures, and developing strategies to manage greenhouse gas emissions resulting from thawing. Key competencies include conducting field studies, analyzing thermal data, and implementing adaptive management practices to address the consequences of permafrost changes.

Community Adaptation Strategies

Developing community adaptation strategies for ice and snow involves the creation of plans and measures that enable communities to adjust to the impacts of changing snow and ice conditions. This process requires evaluating risks such as flooding from melting ice, adapting infrastructure to handle thawing permafrost, and modifying traditional practices to align with new climatic realities. Crucial skills are engaging with local communities to understand their needs, designing effective adaptive solutions, and implementing strategies to boost resilience.