CRYSYS - CRYosphere SYStem in Canada

[snow research] [sea ice research] [lake ice research] [glacier/ice cap research] [permafrost/frozen ground research]

CRYSYS SCIENCE General Research Objectives:

• To develop capabilities for improved satellite-based measurement, monitoring and understanding of cryospheric variables over a range of spatial and temporal scales.
• To contribute to the development and validation of local, regional and global models of climate/cryospheric processes and dynamics, and to improve understanding of the role of the cryosphere in the climate system.
• To assemble, maintain and analyze key historical, operational and research cryospheric data sets for climate monitoring, model development and validation, and change analysis.

CRYSYS Research Areas:

CRYSYS investigators use in-situ, airborne, and satellite data, as well as modelling in their research on the cryospheric variables important in Canada. There are five main areas of research:

• SNOW: CRYSYS scientists are making significant contributions in developing techniques for mapping snow cover and snow water-equivalent from active and passive satellite microwave data
• SEA ICE: current research is focussed on extracting information from satellite data to better estimate the thickness and volume of sea-ice cover and on modelling studies to better understand natural variability
• LAKE ICE: current research is concentrated on developing and validating passive and active microwave algorithms for monitoring lake ice freeze-up and break-up.
• GLACIERS & ICE CAPS: radar and other satellite data are being used by Canadian glaciologists to provide more accurate data on the areal extent, volume and mass balance of Canadian land ice
• PERMAFROST AND FROZEN GROUND: CRYSYS scientists are using in situ networks and satellite data to map and monitor the extent of frozen ground

CRYSYS research activities contribute to the objectives of a number of international science programs such as the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX), the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC, the Arctic Climate System Study ACSYS, and the new Cryosphere and Climate (CliC) initiative.

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