GEO Mountains

In June of 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey completed and made available the Global Mountain Explorer Version 2.0. The Global Mountain Explorer (GME) is a web-based visualization and query tool which allows the online exploration of three terrain-based characterizations of global mountain extent. These characterizations are often referred to as K1, K2, and K3, according to the last name of the first author of the research paper which presented the respective analysis.

The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) 2021 Virtual Symposium took place virtually from 21-24 June. GEO Mountains organised a session focused on the symposium theme Strengthening inclusive partnerships across the GEO Work Programme.

A new article published in the journal One Earth proposes a set of potential Essential Mountain Climate Variables to support the monitoring and understanding of key climate change-related mountain processes. The article builds upon a workshop organized by GEO Mountains and hosted by the MRI.

Climate change is having a range of effects on mountain environments and the critically important ecosystems services they provide. Decision-makers rely on the mountain research community to monitor, understand, and predict possible future changes in these complex, interacting processes. For instance, global assessments, local and regional climate modeling, and climate change adaptation and mitigation all require consistent, long-term, and inter-comparable environmental observations. 

The GEO Mountains May meeting served as a platform for exchange, bringing participants up to speed on recent developments at GEO Mountains and inviting discussion on the formation of Task Groups. GEO Mountains participants also provided key updates on ongoing projects that could contribute to the objectives of GEO Mountains.

The European Geophysical Union (EGU) General Assembly 2021 took place virtually from 19-30 April, 2021. GEO Mountains Scientific Project Officer James Thornton hosted a splinter meeting focused on mountain observations and presented recent progress toward defining Essential Mountain Climate Variables (EMCVs).

The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) recently invited all interested participants to review the draft of its 2021 Status Report.

Human populations in both upland and connected downstream regions rely greatly on ecosystem goods and services provided by mountainous environments. Yet being often extremely steep, remote, and/or inhospitable, mountains represent rather unique contexts, with obstacles to making representative and informative environmental observations being numerous.

The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Global Network for Information and Observations in Mountain Environments has had a busy last few months.

Firstly, we completed our rebranding exercise, the outcomes of which are a change in our “short name” from GEO-GNOME to GEO Mountains, as well as a new logo (see below!). We sincerely hope that you – the mountain community – appreciate these changes and feel motivated to further mobilise yourselves around our Initiative in 2021!

supported by

MRI logo blueCNR logoAatASDCGEO

 

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