Das Projekt "CRYOSUB: Mountain Cryosphere Subgrid Parameterization and Computation" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Zürich, Geographisches Institut durchgeführt. The expected outcome of this project is a method that allows for continental-scale modeling of permafrost, snow and glacier mass balance in mountain areas under present and simulated future climate. This is important because the mountain cryosphere influences a large proportion of the global land mass and population, experiences high rates of climate change and is currently inadequately resolved in regional climate models do to the dominating influence of sub-grid variability. This project does not address climate modelling but will rather provide a proof of concept for the inclusion of topography sub-grid schemes into climate models where it has the potential to improve the modeling of radiative and moisture fluxes over mountain topography. The research proposed here focuses on a one-way coupling, i.e. a scheme in which results from regional models are used but the results of the surface calculation do not feed back into the original model. This allows a thorough and realistic development and evaluation of the method with measured as well as simulated climate data as well as first applications worldwide. At the same time it provides a proof of concept for a later two-way or online coupling where this approach could be included in regional climate models.
Das Projekt "Permasense" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Zürich, Geographisches Institut durchgeführt. Cold mountains are sensitive to climate change. Corresponding research and early warning in this environment of extreme lateral variability, however, are data-limited due to difficult access and harsh conditions. Here, the integration of robust and reliable distributed measurement systems and computer models is the most effective means to achieve significant progress. This integration of robust and reliable distributed measurement systems , however, is a dynamically evolving process of intense trans-disciplinary cooperation, engineering and research. This process of pursuing and operating real systems is the most promising way to materialize the true benefits of wireless sensor network technology in this application area. As a joint geo-science and engineering project, Permasense aims at materializing the benefit of new measurement systems for permafrost research. Current focal points are the advection of heat by running water in joint systems and corresponding potentials for deep linear thaw and rock destabilization as well as cryogenic rock movement.