Das Projekt "What does GRACE tell about mountain glacier mass balance? - Looking for answers in the Tien Shan mountain range" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum durchgeführt. Abstract: Assessing changes of mountain glaciers is of widespread interest but direct measurements are often impossible. By constantly monitoring the Earths gravitational field, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) has revolutionized the way large mass changes can be detected on the Planet. Although several studies have now been using satellite-borne gravimetry data for estimating glacier changes, their validity remains largely unknown. This project aims at validating GRACE-derived estimates of mass changes of mountain glaciers by addressing the Tien Shan mountain range, Central Asia. For doing so, expertise in GRACE-data processing, and both glaciological and hydrological modeling is required. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) is the ideal host institution for such a project.