As noted in the Melting Ice and Global Consequences overview, three themes have been chosen for initial implementation. These themes were chosen largely because of the global consequences of these aspects of the changing cryosphere. Urgent progress is needed in these areas to enable more confident projections of future change, and the implications of these changes for ecosystems and society. Because of its existing infrastructure and ability to mobilize the international climate science community, with modest financial investment WCRP can lead targeted efforts in these areas:
- Permafrost and the global carbon cycle
- Ice sheets, glaciers and rising sea level
- Sea ice and snow interacting with a changing climate
For further details see the Initial Implementation Plan.