PROCESSES · MODELING · FORESIGHT
What is CryoSCOPE about?
Cryosphere Science Concluding in new Observations and Productive Exploitation (CryoSCOPE) is a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA) project aimed at understanding and quantifying the physical and chemical processes within the coupled Cryosphere–Atmosphere–Hydrosphere (CAH) system across diverse cold-region landscapes, including Finnish Lapland, Iceland, the Indian Himalayas, the Swiss Alps, Norway, and Svalbard. The project seeks improved comprehension of how land ice, snow, and permafrost interact with atmospheric and hydrological systems, and evaluate their sensitivity to climate change in these regions.
CryoSCOPE brings together a global consortium of 19 partners across 8 countries of researchers and companies with expertise in land ice, snow, and permafrost. The team excels in in-situ and remote sensing observations of the atmosphere, cryosphere, and hydrology, and in advanced process modelling—to Earth System Models (ESMs)—and applies state-of-the-art AI tools for impactful services to the end users. Applications include improving winter trafficability in Finland, optimizing hydropower generation in the Nordics and Switzerland, mapping glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) hazards, and predicting drought impacts in cold and temperate regions. Through stakeholder collaboration, the project also develops tailored services that integrate machine learning with physics-based numerical models to predict snow and ice-related processes. Furthermore, by creating targeted adaptation and mitigation strategies, CryoSCOPE strengthens climate resilience in some of the world’s most vulnerable landscapes.
Concept Visual
Adapting to environmental change requires evidence-based insights, yet current models struggle to capture the complexity of high-latitude and high-elevation Cryosphere–Atmosphere–Hydrosphere (CAH) coupled systems. This limits the accuracy of melt predictions and climate impact assessments. Persistent knowledge gaps in glacier–permafrost–snow–hydrology interactions further hinder reliable projections and local adaptation planning. To address these issues and advance our understanding of cryospheric change, CryoSCOPE has been meticulously designed.
