Glossary mass balance


Cited from the Glossary, p. 2:
“An early proposal for uniform usage in the study of mass balance came from Mark Meier (1962). The terms and the organizing framework of that paper provoked considerable interest and discussion, and evolved into a consensus which was published as Technical Papers in Hydrology , No. 3, by UNESCO/IASH in 1970, although the source most often cited is Anonymous (1969), a digest of the UNESCO/IASH recommendations which appeared in the Journal of Glaciology, 8(52), 1969.”
 

WMO Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observations – Measurement of Glaciers



Volume II “Measurement of Cryospheric Variables” of the Guide on Instruments and Methods of Observation (GIMO) is a contribution of Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) to ensure high quality and consistent observations and measurements of cryospheric variables made in accordance with accepted standards. Emphasis is put on establishing standards in agreement with the existing ones as well as with guidelines for observations of single cryospheric variables, some of which are routinely used. IACS members contribute substantially to this volume.
Chapter III of Volume II is dedicated to the measurement of glaciers and was provisionally released in 2023.

Status of the mountain snow cover



This Joint-Body is a collaboration between IACS, the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), and the WMO Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW), and counts with the support and participation from these institutions and their networks to realize the tasks under the respective Work Packages (WPs)

The proposal was prepared by a core team of scientists active in various fields of snow research, data and information. Participation in the joint body is open to everybody who is willing to actively contribute to one or several of the objectives listed in the proposal. Download the 2021 approved proposal here.


Yukspor Mt, Khibiny Massif, Kola peninsula, Russian Federation
Ⓒ A. Abramov

Jakobshorn, Davos, Switzerland, with a machine made snow collar.
Ⓒ WSL/SLF; C. Fierz

NEWS

IACS Newsletter September 2024


The first circular for the Busan IAMAS-IACS-IAPSO Joint Assembly 2025 (BACO-25) is now available


IACS is pleased to announce the formation of a new working group on Dynamic processes in the Marginal Ice Zone


Congratulations to the photographers selected for exhibtion in the Polar Educators International and IACS Photo Contest. The selected photos will be on display during ASSW 2024 in Edinburgh, 21-28 March 2024


IACS is pleased to announce the formation of a new working group on Delineation of glaciers, ice sheets, and ice sheet basins


2023 Graham Cogley Award for Laura Dietrich and Erik Loebel


28th IUGG General Assembly in Berlin, July 2023


2023 Early Career Awards for Veronica Tollenaar and Yixi Zheng

(May 2023)


IACS is delighted to announce that the IUGG Gold Medal 2023 (the highest honour of IUGG) has been awarded to Valerie Masson-Delmotte (LSCE, France) for “her leading role in deep ice core climate-record projects, unravelling isotope deposition on polar snow, and for her outstanding contributions to increasing society’s awareness of climate change”.

What are Joint Bodies?


In addition to Working Groups, Standing Groups and Joint Commissions, IACS may also support other types of activities that are joint with IUGG bodies or any other relevant organization or organizations. Joint Bodies are led by co-chairs from each organisation involved and aim to foster collaboration and coordination on topics of overlapping interests. See the Terms of Reference (ToR) for further information.

WMO Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observations – Measurement of Snow



Volume II “Measurement of Cryospheric Variables” of the Guide on Instruments and Methods of Observation (GIMO) is a contribution of Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) to ensure high quality and consistent observations and measurements of cryospheric variables made in accordance with accepted standards. Emphasis is put on establishing standards in agreement with the existing ones as well as with guidelines for observations of single cryospheric variables, some of which are routinely used. IACS members contribute substantially to this volume.
Chapter II of Volume II is dedicated to the measurement of snow. The chapter is based on the ICSSG and should be looked at as a regular update to the classification.