The Earth’s high elevation areas contribute to shaping local and regional climates, while also influencing general atmospheric circulation. They are a key element of the hydrological cycle and the primary source of many of the world’s major river systems.

Climate change is dramatically affecting these environments, especially in terms of altering hydrological cycles and causing retreat of glaciers.

Studying the multi-scale variability of the water and energy cycle at high elevations is crucial in order to assess the regional and global impacts of a rapidly changing climate.
HE is a component of ‘regional focus’ within the Coordinated Energy and Water Cycle Observation Project (CEOP) of the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX), under the WCRP of WMO.

HE aims to further knowledge on physical and dynamic processes in high elevation areas, contributing to global climate and water cycle studies by providing rare but crucial information from high elevations.

The initiative was launched and is coordinated by the Ev-K2-CNR Committee.

                   

 CEOP-HE stations on Earth (tentative)