Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

NSIDC: Supporting and Conducting Cryospheric Research Since 1976
Researchers at CIRES' National Snow and Ice Data Center [ About NSIDC ] investigate the dynamics of Antarctic ice shelves, new techniques for the remote sensing of snow and freeze/thaw cycle of soils, the role of snow in hydrologic modeling, linkages between changes in sea ice extent and weather patterns, large-scale shifts in polar climate, river and lake ice, and the distribution and characteristics of seasonally and permanently frozen ground. In-house scientific expertise helps NSIDC improve the quality of research data sets and respond quickly to inquiries on snow and ice topics from the general public. Scientists pursue their work as part of the CIRES' Cryospheric and Polar Processes Division. National agencies fund research through the peer review proposal process.

NSIDC Research Projects
Since 1982, CIRES' scientists at NSIDC, working on various research projects, have investigated the impact and response of the cryosphere in the global climate system .

NSIDC Researchers in CIRES News & Events

• Older Arctic Sea Ice is Giving Way to Young, Thin Ice (January 2008)
• NSIDC Researchers Share in 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Recognition of IPCC (October 2007)
• Diminished summer sea ice leads to opening of the fabled Northwest Passage (October 2007)
• Arctic Sea Ice Bottoms Out For 2007, Shatters All Time Record Low (September 2007)
• Study Traces Delay in North American Monsoon to Pacific Ocean Warming (April 2007)
• Arctic Sea Ice Narrowly Missed Record Low In Winter 2007, Say CIRES Researchers (April 2007)
• Arctic Sea Ice Decline May Trigger Climate Change Cascade (March 2007)
• Avalanche Danger No Higher Than Average After State's Big Storms (February 2007)
• Arctic Sea Ice Shrinks as Temperatures Rise (October 2006)
• Scientists to Discuss Polar Research (March 2006)
• Declining Snowpack in Rockies Cools Off CO2 Emissions from Forest Soils in Winter (February 2006)
• Most of Arctic's Near-Surface Permafrost to Thaw by 2100 (December 2005)
• Arctic Sea Ice Continues Decline As Arctic Temperatures Rise (September 2005)
• New Railroad Across Tibet Conquers Permafrost Using Crushed Rocks (December 2004)
• Antarctic Glaciers Accelerating In Response To 2002 Ice Sheet Collapse (September 2004)
• CU Scientist to Give Talk Friday on Climate Change in the Arctic (January 2004)
• Global Glacier Recession Workshop at CU-Boulder (March 2003)
• NASA Funds Study of Changes in Earth's Glacier Systems (August 2003)
• Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapses In Largest Event Of Last 30 Years (March 2002)
• Arctic Sea Ice Shrinking, Greenland Ice Sheet Melting, According to Study (December 2002)
• Arctic Temperatures Warmest in Past Four Centuries, Says Study (August 2000)
• Colorado Most Dangerous State in Nation for Avalanche Fatalities (December 1999)
• Climatologist Wins National Geophysical Award (December 1999)
• Researchers to Map Polar Ice on Mars (February 1999)
• Satellite Images Show Chunk of Broken Antarctic Ice Shelf (April 1997)

NSIDC's State of the Cryosphere web site provides an overview of the status of snow and ice as indicators of climate change. The site provides time-series data for Northern Hemisphere snow cover, mountain glacier fluctuations, sea ice extent and concentration, changes in ice shelves, and global sea level. It also provides a snapshot of current permafrost conditions.

For other cryospheric research at CIRES, see also the Cassano (polar climate and meteorology) and Steffen (Greenland/arctic climate) research group sites.