ECV Products and Requirements for Glaciers
These products and requirements reflect the Implementation Plan 2016 (GCOS-200). GCOS is reviewing and will update the requirements until 2022. More information on: gcos.wmo.int.
| Product | Definition | Resolution | Frequency | Required Measurement Uncertainty | Stability | Standards/ References |
| Glacier Area | Area covered by glaciers (per glacier) | Annual(at end of ablation season) | Horizontal(at the end of the ablation period)15-30 m | 5% | N/A | IGOS (2009), Paul et al. (2009), Zemp et al. (2013) |
| Glacier Elevation Change | 2d map of change in height of surface of glacier | Decadal | Horizontal 30-100 m x vertical 1 m | 2 m/ decade | 1 m/ decade | IGOS (2009), Paul et al. (2009), Zemp et al. (2013) |
| Glacier Mass Change | Annual change in total mass of glacier (at the end of the ablation period) | Seasonal to annual (the latter at end of ablation period) | Vertical: 0.01 m per 10 kg/ m2 (at point location) | Better than 200 kg/m2/year (glacier-wide) | N/A | IGOS (2009), Paul et al. (2009), Zemp et al. (2013) |
