1 Water Research Institute - National Research Council (IRSA-CNR) 2 Ev-K2-CNR Committee

1. 5th CliC SSG Meeting December 8-11, 2008 - Geneva, Switzerland The CEOP-High Elevations Initiative Gianni Tartari 1,2,Chair of CEOP-HE ceop-he@evk2cnr.org with the collaboration of Elisa Vuillermoz 2 ,Beth Schommer 2,Emanuela Manfredi 2 1 Water Research Institute - National Research Council (IRSA-CNR) 2 Ev-K2-CNR Committee

2. Rationale The Earth’s high elevation areas contribute to shaping local and regional climates, while also influencing general atmospheric circulation. HE as a key element of the hydrological cycle and the primary source of many of the world’s major river systems. Climate change is dramatically affecting these environments, especially in terms of altering hydrological cycles and causing retreat of glaciers. Studying the multi-scale variability of the water and energy cycle at high elevations is crucial in order to assess and quantify the regional and global impacts of a rapidly changing climate HE aims to further knowledge on physical and dynamic processes in high elevation areas, contributing to global climate and water cycle studies by providing rare but crucial information from high elevations

3. 84% Mountainous Terrain (Excluding Antartica) Mountains and Mountain Forests MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN 7.0 % of the World surface 24.0 % of Continental surface

4. Hydrological significance of mountain ranges for the river basins Viviroli, D. & R. Weingartner. 2004. The hydrological significance of mountains: from regional to global scale. Hydrology and Earth System Science, 8: 1016-1029.

5. Signals of climatic change in HE areas °C/y References Liu, X. and B. Chen, 2000. “ClimaticWarming in the Tibetan Plateau During Recent Decades,” in International Journal of Climatology 20: 1729-1742. Shrestha, A.B., C.P. Wake, P.A. Mayewski, and J.E. Dibb, 1999. “Maximum Temperature Trends in the Himalaya and its Vicinity: An Analysis Based on Temperature Records from Nepal for the Period 1971 – 94” in Journal of Climate, (12) 2775-2789 Bradley R.S., M. Vuille, H.F. Diaz, W. Vergara. 2006. Threats to Water Supplies in the Tropical Andes. Science, 312: 1755 Nepal 1977-1994 °C/y (Modify by: Shrestha et. al. 1999) Temperature increase (per decade) as a function of elevation on the Tibetan Plateau (Modify by: Liu and Chen, 2000) +0.28 °C/decade

6. Tibet • Himalaya • Karakorum High Altitude CEOP Stations Map of the New CEOP Reference Sites Measurements - Surface meterology and radiation - Heat and CO2 fluxes - Soil temperature and soil moisture - Tower meteorology

7. Summit Zugspitze-Hohenpeissenberg Jungfraujoch Sonnblick Mt Cimone Izana Assekrem Mauna Loa Mt.Kenya High Altitude GAW Stations 80 80 40 40 Mt Waliguan Pyramid-Everest 0 0 40 40 160 80 0 80 160 March 2005 South Pole Courtesy of L. Jalkanen

8. GOAL: To study multi-scale variability of water and energy cycles in high elevation areas, while improving observations, modeling and data mangement • Specific OBJECTIVES: • Promote coordinated mechanisms to favor the sharing of harmonic, high-quality hydrological and meteo-climatic datasets • Promote long-termmonitoring of meteo-climatic parameters in high elevation areas and analyze environmental responses to global changes. • Improve understanding of the aerosols impact on water cycle. • Improve hydro-climate forecasting capabilities at high elevations to optimize benefits to society, particularly in water resources management. Urdukas AWS (4,000 m a.s.l.) Pyramid AWS (5,050 m a.s.l.) Development of a global network of high elevation monitoring stations, including but not limited to CEOP RS

9. MAHASRI Regional foci CEOP-HE is a component of ‘regional focus’ within the CEOP of GEWEX, under WCRP Regional Hydroclimatic Projetcs (RHPs) CEOP-HE within WCRP/GEWEX/CEOP Courtesy of V. Ryabinin

10. Various scales to treat in CEOP-HE Space HE/Mountain ranges Global Warming Monsoon Aerosol Basin Meso- 100 km 1000 km sub-continent Snow cover Severe weather Weathering Permafrost Run-off Convection Avalanche, Flooding Glacier Hour Day Week Season Year Y-to-Y Decadal Time Courtesy of K.Ueno, modified by G.Tartari

11. Way of implementing actions in HE Courtesy of K.Ueno, modified by G.Tartari Technical issues Research topics Strategy Priority Action plans Regional Global Local Observation, analysis, modeling, data acquisition, distribution, assimilation Cross-cutting (CEOP, GEWEX, WCRP, ABC, …) Application

12. Implementation strategy: main actions planned • Print the HE-Science Plan. • Develop of HE-Network based on representative high-elevation stations worldwide (max 50). • Identification of reference stations to be proposed to insert within CEOP network. • Divulgate CEOP-HE activity to the international scientific community (GEWEX, AGU, EGU, or other international conferences). • Establish research groups focused on specific areas where reference sites already exist, like Himalaya/Tibet/Karakorum mountain ranges.

13. Implementation strategy: preliminary dissemination program in 2009 DRAFT

14. http//: www.ceop-he.org

15. Thanks for your attention Gianni Tartari tartari@irsa.cnr.it Ev-K2-CNR Committe Via San Bernardino, 145 24126 Bergamo, Italy www.evk2cnr.org Water Research Institute National Research Council Località Occhiate 20052 Brugherio, Milan www.irsa.cnr.it