What is the cryosphere?
Changes in the cryosphere Change in precipitation from snow to rain
Degradation of mountain permafrost
Shift of snow and glaciers to higher elevations
Reduction in glacier area and volume
Cryosphere
Snow
Glacier The seasonal melting of the cryosphere contributes to peak flow in summer
Permafrost
-30%
Melting starts earlier and faster 1970
2020
The cryosphere in Central Asia Melt water from snow and glaciers runs hydropower turbines ... ... contributes to crop irrigation ...
Home to flagship species
Danger from glacial lakes, avalanches
... and the supply of drinking water
! Irrigation
Energy
Ecosystems
Cities
Water and the cryosphere Tien Shan
The Pamirs
1 800 km
2
15 500 km
2
Syr Darya
The future
Snow
More rain
Excessive water supply due to intense melting
Contribution of glacial melt water to upstream river flow
10%
Today
Lack of water supply in summer
40% Amu Darya
Project partners and funders
United Nations Global Environment Development Programme Facility
Participating countries
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan
Gaps in knowledge and monitoring of the cryosphere i
i
i i
Sparse snow and glacier monitoring, limited time series
Very limited in-situ glacier and permafrost observations
Limited information exchange, lack of coordination
? ?? Lack of information for decision-making and adaptation to climate change
Limited public awareness
Limited inter-agency cooperation
Key elements of cryospheric monitoring Glacier inventories Meteorological data
Volume change
Mass balance change
Area change
Glaciers
Length change
Velocities of rock glaciers
Snowline
t fros
ma Per
Ice flow velocities
Surface temperatures
Temperature, depth and ice content
Runoff
Runoff
Ice thickness, profile, spatial distribution
Beneficiaries
Legislators and Hydrometeorological top decision makers services
National universities
Academia, institutes
Regional and external Non-governmental universities and centers public organizations
$ International organizations
Agricultural authorities
Environmental authorities
Water authorities
Project partners and funders
United Nations Global Environment Development Programme Facility
Private sector
Women’s organizations and associations
Participating countries
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan
The project in a nutshell Budget: GEF budget
Duration
2022–2026 EXPECTED RESULTS
25 project partners
co-financing
(planned)
i
5 countries
$6 million, $13 million
i
i Better knowledge of the climate’s trends and impact on the cryosphere
Regular glacier monitoring and regional exchange Improved science and policy links and cooperation
Public and political interest in glaciers Adaptation to climate change in glacier-dependent areas
Project activities and outcomes 1. Knowledge and information database Diagnostic analysis (DA): changes in the cryosphere
National databases on the cryosphere
Glacier vulnerability and hazards
Climate, glacial and water scenarios
2. National and regional cooperation and centres National action plans (NAPs)
Regional Strategic action program (SAP)
The regional glacier monitoring protocol
Regional knowledge exchange and training
Trainings
Projects in 5 countries
Virtual reality tours of glaciers
The project website, linked to IW:LEARN
Inter-agency cooperation
National and regional centers and forums
3. Capacity for cryospheric monitoring National cryospheric Assessment and forecasting monitoring programs of the climate’s impact on the cryosphere
4. Training and demonstrating adaptation to climate change
5. Public awareness and engagement Events and conferences
Project partners and funders
United Nations Global Environment Development Programme Facility
Stakeholder engagement
Participating countries
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan
Two glacier projects, many synergies
Focus on climate-sensitive mountain environments
Climate change as a key threat
Implemented by UNESCO
Cryosphere
Targeting vulnerable communities
Supported by science
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
Adaptation Fund
Glacier science and monitoring capacity
Impacts of climate change, strategic and local measures
Early warning and risk reduction
Cooperation and engagement of different science and policy actors and communities
Communities
Science Policy
Consideration of the cryosphere and glacial hazards in policy, international investment and global science
High level statements and initiatives
Project partners and funders
United Nations Global Environment Development Programme Facility
Global climate and glacier science
International investments and connectivity
Participating countries
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan