International Association of Cryospheric Sciences
Encyclopedia
The International Association of Cryospheric Sciences, or IACS, is the eighth association of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
(IUGG). It was launched by the IUGG Council on 2007-07-04, developing from the International Commission of Snow and Ice of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences
(IAHS) via the transitional Union Commission for the Cryospheric Sciences (UCCS).
Formation of this new Association is recognition of the importance of the cryosphere
in the study of Earth System Science
, and particularly at a time of significant global change. Accordingly, cryospheric sciences is an umbrella term
for the study of the cryosphere
(not unlike atmospheric sciences
, encompassing meteorology
, climatology
, and aeronomy
); as an interdisciplinary Earth science
, many disciplines contribute to it, most notably geology
, hydrology
, and meteorology
and climatology
; in this sense, it is comparable to glaciology
. IACS has historic connections going back to the establishment of the Commission Internationale des Glaciers (International Glacier Commission) in 1894.
The broad objectives of IACS are:
(at present IACS has responsibility within the International Council of Science for the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS)).
IACS is structured around a number of disciplinary Divisions. Currently these are:
A number of working groups under these Divisions address scientific problems of the cryosphere that are timely and well constrained. Recent examples include a working group on "Intercomparison of Forest Snow Process Models", and working groups that have developed a new "International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground" and a new "Glossary of Mass Balance and Related Terms".
International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the scientific study of the Earth using geophysical and geodesic techniques. The IUGG was established in 1919. Some areas within its scope are environmental preservation, reduction of the effects of...
(IUGG). It was launched by the IUGG Council on 2007-07-04, developing from the International Commission of Snow and Ice of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences
International Association of Hydrological Sciences
The International Association of Hydrological Sciences is a non-profit non-governmental scientific organization committed to serving the science of hydrology and the worldwide community of hydrologists...
(IAHS) via the transitional Union Commission for the Cryospheric Sciences (UCCS).
Formation of this new Association is recognition of the importance of the cryosphere
Cryosphere
The cryosphere is the term which collectively describes the portions of the Earth’s surface where water is in solid form, including sea ice, lake ice, river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets, and frozen ground . Thus there is a wide overlap with the hydrosphere...
in the study of Earth System Science
Earth system science
Earth system science seeks to integrate various fields of academic study to understand the Earth as a system. It considers interaction between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere , biosphere, and heliosphere....
, and particularly at a time of significant global change. Accordingly, cryospheric sciences is an umbrella term
Umbrella term
An umbrella term is a word that provides a superset or grouping of concepts that all fall under a single common category. Umbrella term is also called a hypernym. For example, cryptology is an umbrella term that encompasses cryptography and cryptanalysis, among other fields...
for the study of the cryosphere
Cryosphere
The cryosphere is the term which collectively describes the portions of the Earth’s surface where water is in solid form, including sea ice, lake ice, river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets, and frozen ground . Thus there is a wide overlap with the hydrosphere...
(not unlike atmospheric sciences
Atmospheric sciences
Atmospheric sciences is an umbrella term for the study of the atmosphere, its processes, the effects other systems have on the atmosphere, and the effects of the atmosphere on these other systems. Meteorology includes atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric physics with a major focus on weather...
, encompassing meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
, climatology
Climatology
Climatology is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time, and is a branch of the atmospheric sciences...
, and aeronomy
Aeronomy
Aeronomy is the science of the upper region of the atmosphere, where dissociation and ionization are important. The term aeronomy was introduced by Sydney Chapman, and the above definition stems from 1960. Today the term also includes the science of the corresponding regions of the atmospheres of...
); as an interdisciplinary Earth science
Earth science
Earth science is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences...
, many disciplines contribute to it, most notably geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, hydrology
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
, and meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
and climatology
Climatology
Climatology is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time, and is a branch of the atmospheric sciences...
; in this sense, it is comparable to glaciology
Glaciology
Glaciology Glaciology Glaciology (from Middle French dialect (Franco-Provençal): glace, "ice"; or Latin: glacies, "frost, ice"; and Greek: λόγος, logos, "speech" lit...
. IACS has historic connections going back to the establishment of the Commission Internationale des Glaciers (International Glacier Commission) in 1894.
The broad objectives of IACS are:
- to promote studies of the cryosphere;
- to encourage research on cryospheric sciences through collaboration;
- to foster discussion and publication of results of cryospheric research;
- to promote education about the cryosphere;
- to facilitate standardisation of cryospheric measurements; and
- to promote the science of Permanent Services under IACS responsibility
(at present IACS has responsibility within the International Council of Science for the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS)).
IACS is structured around a number of disciplinary Divisions. Currently these are:
- Seasonal Snow Cover and Avalanches;
- Continental Glaciers and Ice Sheets;
- Marine and Freshwater Ice;
- Cryosphere, Atmosphere and Climate;
- Planetary & other Ices of the Solar System.
A number of working groups under these Divisions address scientific problems of the cryosphere that are timely and well constrained. Recent examples include a working group on "Intercomparison of Forest Snow Process Models", and working groups that have developed a new "International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground" and a new "Glossary of Mass Balance and Related Terms".