[GLIMS] GLIMS2?
Michael Zemp
michael.zemp at geo.uzh.ch
Sat Nov 30 01:44:37 MST 2013
Dear Graham,
Dear colleagues,
First of all, I highly appreciate the great efforts of the Randolph
group towards an improved understanding of the global glacier
distribution. It came just in time to compensate for the somehow slowing
enthusiasm (and lack of operational manpower) of the GLIMS community.
I fully understand that the Randolph group is now looking for ways to
secure the legacy of their efforts beyond IPCC AR5. At the same time, I
would like to stress that in our mainly science-driven system there is
not enough funding for running and regularly (and redundantly) updating
more than one operational glacier inventory database. (We already went
through that exercise when the GLIMS database operationally replaced the
WGI database: then the solution was to include all new inventories with
digital outlines into the GLIMS database and to only update the WGI when
larger datasets in the WGI-format and without outlines become available.)
The GLIMS database is able storing multi-temporal datasets with exact
time stamps and full metadata but has not yet global coverage. The
Randolph dataset is designed as a temporal snapshot in time with global
coverage but in many regions lacks of exact time stamps and comes with
limited metadata.
In my view, the following approach would allow joining both Randolph and
GLIMS efforts:
(1) Freeze the Randolph dataset at the present or a later version
(depending on available funding and manpower of the driving projects)
and continue making it available from the GLIMS website (hosted at NSIDC).
(2) Bring down the technical and manpower barriers for including glacier
outlines into the GLIMS database (hosted at NSIDC).
(3) Include the high-quality glacier outlines from the Randolph dataset
(after adding time stamps and re-attribution; cf. Paul et al. 2009) into
the GLIMS database.
(4) Actively continue updating the GLIMS database with new glacier
outlines at highest possible quality and metadata level.
(5) Derive a new version of the Randolph dataset (other any other
product) once another important event (e.g. IPCC AR6) comes along with a
specific purpose and with the opportunity for getting additional funds.
I wish you a nice GLIMS dinner with fruitful discussions at AGU and I'm
looking forward to a constructive joint solution implemented next year.
Best, Michael
Reference: Paul, F., Barry, R.G., Gogley, J.G., Frey, H., Haeberli, W.,
Ohmura, A., Ommanney, S.C.L., Raup, B., Rivera, A. and Zemp, M. (2009):
Recommendations for the compilation of glacier inventory data from
digital sources. Annals of Glaciology, 50 (53).
+ + + +
Michael Zemp
Director WGMS, Dr. sc. nat.
email: michael.zemp at geo.uzh.ch
phone: +41 44 635 51 39
World Glacier Monitoring Service
Department of Geography
University of Zurich
Winterthurerstrasse 190
8057 Zurich
SWITZERLAND
wgms at geo.uzh.ch
http://www.wgms.ch
On 27.11.2013 19:14, Graham Cogley wrote:
> Dear all - I sent an earlier version of the attached document to the authors of
> the paper about the Randolph Glacier Inventory, and one or two others, in
> September. The idea was to suggest that, with the imminent appearance of the GLIMS
> Book and (we hope) acceptance of the RGI paper, now is a good time to reflect on
> the future of both datasets, separately and together. GLIMS has evolved
> dramatically over its lifetime, and so has the RGI over its much shorter span.
>
> I have not altered the original text about "GLIMS2?", but Bruce has set me
> straight on one or two points and he and I have had some discussion about others.
> However I have added the wish list from the conclusion of the RGI paper to
> indicate the direction in which the RGI authors think it might be heading.
>
> Because I don't know who will be at the GLIMS dinner during AGU (evening of the
> Wednesday?), I am sending this to the whole GLIMS list with an invitation for
> comment/discussion - not about details but rather about generalities.
>
> Graham.
>
> J. Graham Cogley, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Geography,
> Department of Geography, Trent University,
> Peterborough, Ontario, CANADA K9J 7B8.
>
> Tel +1 705-748-1011-x7686
> Email gcogley at trentu.ca
> Web http://www.trentu.ca/geography/glaciology
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GLIMS mailing list
> GLIMS at nsidc.org
> https://nsidc.org/mailman/listinfo/glims
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