Repository details

World Glacier Monitoring Service

Name of repository
World Glacier Monitoring Service
Additional name(s)
  • WGMS
Repository URL
https://wgms.ch/
Subject(s)
Description
The World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) collects standardized observations on changes in mass, volume, area and length of glaciers with time (glacier fluctuations), as well as statistical information on the distribution of perennial surface ice in space (glacier inventories). Such glacier fluctuation and inventory data are high priority key variables in climate system monitoring; they form a basis for hydrological modelling with respect to possible effects of atmospheric warming, and provide fundamental information in glaciology, glacial geomorphology and quaternary geology. The highest information density is found for the Alps and Scandinavia, where long and uninterrupted records are available. As a contribution to the Global Terrestrial/Climate Observing System (GTOS, GCOS), the Division of Early Warning and Assessment and the Global Environment Outlook of UNEP, and the International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO, the WGMS collects and publishes worldwide standardized glacier data.
Contact(s)
Content type(s)
Keyword(s)
Persistent identifier(s) of the repository
Repository type(s)
  • disciplinary
Mission statement for designated community
https://wgms.ch/about_wgms/
Research data repository language(s)
  • English
Data and/or service provider
  • dataProvider

Institutions (4)

Institution
Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers
Additional name(s)
  • GTN-G
Country
International
Type(s) of responsibility
  • funding
Type of institution
non-profit
Institution
Swiss GCOS Office at the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology
Additional name(s)
  • GCOS at MeteoSwiss
Country
Switzerland
Type(s) of responsibility
  • funding
Type of institution
non-profit
Institution
University of Zurich, Department of Geography, World Glacier Monitoring Service
Additional name(s)
  • Universität Zürich, Geographisches Institut, World Glacier Monitoring Service
  • WGMS
Country
Switzerland
Type(s) of responsibility
  • general
  • technical
  • funding
Type of institution
non-profit
Institution
WGMS National correspondents
Country
International
Type(s) of responsibility
  • general
Type of institution
non-profit

Policies (3)

Policy Name
Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers Data policy
Policy Name
World Data System Bylaws
Policy Name
Data Sharing Principles

Database access

Type of access to research data repository
open

Data access (2)

Type of access to data
open
Type of access to data
embargoed

Data licenses (2)

DataLicense
other
DataLicense
CC

Data upload (1)

Type of data upload
restricted
Data upload restriction type(s)
  • registration

Data upload license (2)

Data upload license name
General guidelines for Data Submission
Data upload license name
Guidelines
Persistent identifier system(s)
  • DOI
Name of the repository software
  • unknown
Data citation guideline
https://wgms.ch/data_databaseversions/
Quality management
yes

Metadata standards (1)

Metadata standard
Repository-Developed Metadata Schemas

Remarks

Remarks
World Glacier Monitoring Service is covered by Thomson Reuters Data Citation Index. WGMS is part of the ICSU World Data System(WDS). WGMS is in charge of the Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers (GTN-G) within GTOS/GCOS. World Glacier Monitoring Service isunder the auspices of: ICSU (WDS), IUGG (IACS), UNEP, UNESCO, WMO WGMS was CTS certified until 2022-08-19.
Entry date
2014-02-13
Last update
2025-03-21
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Cite this re3data.org record:

re3data.org: World Glacier Monitoring Service; editing status 2025-03-21; re3data.org - Registry of Research Data Repositories. http://doi.org/10.17616/R3WP5N last accessed: 2025-05-02