Special Issue on Cryosphere Digital Twin for Climate Action and Sustainable Development (CryoTwin)

The International Decade of Sciences has proposed the initiative of "Cryosphere Digital Twin for Climate Action and Sustainable Development (CryoTwin)". This initiative integrates observations, modeling, and digital technologies to advance climate action and sustainable development. Aligned with WCRP, GCOS, and SDGs, this Special Issue fosters interdisciplinary innovation in cryosphere science, combining physical and data-driven and AI-based approaches. It also promotes collaboration, open science, and actionable insights for adaptation, risk reduction, and global sustainability, positioning CryoTwin as a transformative paradigm.

We welcome submissions on the following topics (and their related areas):

• Cryospheric Processes and Change: Dynamics of glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice, snow cover, and permafrost; Cryosphere-climate feedback mechanisms.
• Digital Twin and Earth System Modeling: Architecture and frameworks for cryosphere digital twins; Coupled multi-sphere modeling systems.
• Artificial Intelligence and Data-Driven Approaches: AI applications in cryosphere modeling; Data assimilation and model-data fusion.
• Observations and Data Infrastructure: Multi-source remote sensing and in situ observations; Cryosphere big data platforms and interoperability.
• Risk Assessment and Decision Support: Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs); Sea-level rise and coastal impacts; Permafrost degradation and infrastructure risks.
• Sustainability and Policy Applications: Water resource management; Climate adaptation strategies; Community resilience and Indigenous knowledge integration.

Guest editor:

• Prof. Shichang Kang, Director General of Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
• Prof. Xiaodong Wu, Deputy Director of the CAS International Research Center for Environment and Engineering in Cold and Arid Regions of China, Mongolia, and Russia, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environmeng and Resources, CAS
• Prof. Zhenming Ji, Deputy Director of State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environmeng and Resources, CAS

Deadline for submission: 31 December 2026

Submission instructions:

Authors are encouraged to carefully review the Guide for Authors of Advances in Climate Change Research before preparing their manuscripts. All submissions must be made through the journal's online submission platform.