TY - JOUR
T1 - Toward a definition of Essential Mountain Climate Variables
AU - Thornton, James M.
AU - Palazzi, Elisa
AU - Pepin, Nicolas C.
AU - Cristofanelli, Paolo
AU - Essery, Richard
AU - Kotlarski, Sven
AU - Giuliani, Gregory
AU - Guigoz, Yaniss
AU - Kulonen, Aino
AU - Pritchard, David
AU - Li, Xiaofeng
AU - Fowler, Hayley J.
AU - Randin, Christophe F.
AU - Shahgedanova, Maria
AU - Steinbacher, Martin
AU - Zebisch, Marc
AU - Adler, Carolina
PY - 2021/6/18
Y1 - 2021/6/18
N2 - The numerous processes implicated in the rapid and profound climate-driven changes that are underway across the world's mountains must be well monitored, understood, and—as far as possible—accurately projected. However, not only are the available environmental data upon which such activities hinge often severely limited, but interdisciplinary consensus regarding which variables should be considered observation priorities also remains elusive. Here, the concept of Essential Mountain Climate Variables (EMCVs) is introduced as a potential means of ameliorating the situation. After a review of climate-driven environmental change in mountains, a preliminary set of corresponding EMCVs is proposed. Variables pertaining to several disciplines naturally feature prominently. In addition, several are not currently considered to hold broader global relevance, which justifies our mountain-specific approach. Established and emerging possibilities to measure, generate, and apply EMCVs are then summarized. Finally, future activities toward the concept’s formalization are recommended. Ultimately, the approach hopes to increase the utility of mountainous environmental data to both fundamental science and decision making related to environmental management, risk mitigation, and adaptation.
AB - The numerous processes implicated in the rapid and profound climate-driven changes that are underway across the world's mountains must be well monitored, understood, and—as far as possible—accurately projected. However, not only are the available environmental data upon which such activities hinge often severely limited, but interdisciplinary consensus regarding which variables should be considered observation priorities also remains elusive. Here, the concept of Essential Mountain Climate Variables (EMCVs) is introduced as a potential means of ameliorating the situation. After a review of climate-driven environmental change in mountains, a preliminary set of corresponding EMCVs is proposed. Variables pertaining to several disciplines naturally feature prominently. In addition, several are not currently considered to hold broader global relevance, which justifies our mountain-specific approach. Established and emerging possibilities to measure, generate, and apply EMCVs are then summarized. Finally, future activities toward the concept’s formalization are recommended. Ultimately, the approach hopes to increase the utility of mountainous environmental data to both fundamental science and decision making related to environmental management, risk mitigation, and adaptation.
KW - essential climate variables
KW - ECVs
KW - mountainous regions
KW - mountainous environmental systems
KW - climate change
KW - Interdisciplinary
KW - Earth observation and monitoring
KW - GEO mountains
UR - https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2590332221002487
U2 - 10.1016/j.oneear.2021.05.005
DO - 10.1016/j.oneear.2021.05.005
M3 - Article
SN - 2590-3322
VL - 2021
SP - 1
EP - 23
JO - One Earth
JF - One Earth
IS - 4
ER -