Taking the next step in Svalbard snow research

The goal of this workshop is to connect scientists (especially early career scientists) from different backgrounds in order to establish an interdisciplinary snow science research group in Svalbard. The idea is to foster and re-enforce international collaboration among snow scientists either working or planning to work in Svalbard. Deliverables will include scheduling future collaborative field efforts and data sharing, thus reducing redundant sampling. A major goal is to develop a multi-annual sampling strategy program, e.g. using pre-set sites at different locations on Svalbard where field surveys are being carried out regularly: e.g. Austfonna (East), Lomonosovfonna (Central), Kongsvegen (West), and Hansbreen (South), in combination with more frequent sampling (annually) at the two year-round manned monitoring facilities: Hornsund (Southwest) and Ny-Ålesund (Northwest). The data collected from these sites would be made accessible to scientists from around the globe. This would greatly improve our understanding of how the snowpack functions in a consistent and constant manner.