The European mountain cryosphere: a-review of its current state, trends, and future challenges ...

• Main Authors: Beniston, Martin, Farinotti, Daniel, Stoffel, Markus, Andreassen, Liss M., Coppola, Erika, Eckert, Nicolas, Fantini, Adriano, Giacona, Florie, Hauck, Christian, Huss, Matthias, Huwald, Hendrik, Lehning, Michael, López-Moreno, Juan-Ignacio, Magnusson, Jan, Marty, Christoph, Morán-Tejéda, Enrique, Morin, Samuel, Naaim, Mohamed, Provenzale, Antonello, Rabatel, Antoine, Six, Delphine, Stötter, Johann, Strasser, Ulrich, Terzago, Silvia, Vincent, Christian
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: ETH Zurich 2018
• Subjects: permafrost
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000247601; http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/247601

The mountain cryosphere of mainland Europe is recognized to have important impacts on a range of environmental processes. In this paper, we provide an overview on the current knowledge on snow, glacier, and permafrost processes, as well as their past, current, and future evolution. We additionally provide an assessment of current cryosphere research in Europe and point to the different domains requiring further research. Emphasis is given to our understanding of climate–cryosphere interactions, cryosphere controls on physical and biological mountain systems, and related impacts. By the end of the century, Europe's mountain cryosphere will have changed to an extent that will impact the landscape, the hydrological regimes, the water resources, and the infrastructure. The impacts will not remain confined to the mountain area but also affect the downstream lowlands, entailing a wide range of socioeconomical consequences. European mountains will have a completely different visual appearance, in which low- and ... : The Cryosphere, 12 (2) ...