Abstract

On the basis of analyzing the importance of cryospheric researches in China and current status of cryospheric sciences in the world, this paper addresses key issues and main contents of present cryospheric sciences in China. The key issues currently addressed are: i) mechanisms of different types of glaciers in response to climate change and the scale-conversion in water resources assessments, ii) modeling of water and heat exchanges between frozen soil and vegetation, iii) parameterization of physical processes in cryosphere as well as coupling with climate models. To gain full clarification of these key issues, works of the following three aspects should be highlighted, i.e., cryospheric processes and responses to climate change, influences of cryospheric changes, and adaptation strategies for cryospheric changes. Qin, D., and Y. Ding, 2010: Key issues on cryospheric changes, trends and their impacts. Adv. Clim. Change Res., 1, doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1248.2010.00001.