As a result of global atmospheric warming, all components of Earth's cryosphere are now changing at a dramatic pace. More than a quarter of the planet's land surface receives snow precipitation each year. Water stored as snow and ice is a critical contribution to the world's available freshwater supply and is essential to the sustenance of natural ecosystems, agriculture and human societies. Mass loss continues from glaciers and ice fields in all mountainous regions of the world and from Arctic and Sub-Arctic ice caps. The large ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are major contributors to rising sea level and are now beginning to show signs of irreversible mass loss. The areal extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice cover continues to decline and the resulting albedo changes may now be affecting winter weather patterns in North America and Eurasia. Increasing attention is being given to hazards due to thinning of lake and river ice cover and permafrost degradation, including slope failure, which calls for increased in situ monitoring and the development of new remote sensing techniques.

— Bring together leading cryospheric scientists presenting their latest research

— Take stock of the impact of global warming on all components of Earth's cryosphere

— Promote coordination of snow and ice studies on Earth, with emphasis on the Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) and related programs

— Examine new technologies and research gaps
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— Discuss future perspectives