The initiative is a Nordic contribution towards solving the global climate change challenges and intends to promote research and innovation within the region. The TFI is the largest joint Nordic research and innovation initiative to date. The focus will be on fields of climate and energy research of common interest to the Nordic countries, and where the region can contribute with international solutions. For more information visit the TFI homepage: www.toppforskningsinitiativet.org/no.

The cryosphere refers to the part of the Earth System where water occurs in its frozen form. It is extensive at high latitudes but also occurs in elevated areas at lower latitudes. It is a prominent feature of the arctic and sub-arctic areas but extends over most of the Nordic region.

Snow and sea ice, albeit the small volume, cover vast areas and are crucial for solar reflection and ocean circulation at global scale. The permafrost affects soil water content and vegetation of huge areas.
Glaciers and ice caps react relatively rapidly to climate change, with impacts on ecosystems, human activity at regional levels, interactions with and feedbacks on ocean currents, and act as good indicators of climate change.

Temperature rise due to the changing climate is thought to be more prominent in the arctic and sub-arctic areas than at lower latitudes and thus affects the stability and dynamics of the cryosphere in these regions. However, even modest temperature rises can have a major impact on the cryosphere in other Nordic regions. Absence of winter ice in the Baltic sea and snow cover over the boreal zones will impact the environment and act as feed backs into the Earth System. In the Nordic region, the direct impact of the changing cryosphere on society and industry and the geographical proximity and long historical connection to the Arctic, make the Nordic countries especially suitable for accomplishing joint research programmes within this topic. The knowledge produced by such a research programme is relevant not only for the Nordic region, but also in a global perspective.

The main objectives of the TFI sub-programme "Interaction between Climate Change and the Cryosphere" (ICCC) are to reinforce Earth System research cooperation in the Nordic region and beyond, to improve our understanding of the cryosphere stability and dynamics, to specify cryosphere parameters in the Earth System models and to support science driven questions of high interest to society, science, industry and/or national infrastructure.

The NCoE is an instrument to increase the scientific quality, efficiency, competitiveness and visibility of Nordic research through enhanced collaboration between Nordic countries. A NCoE consists of prominent research groups from at least three Nordic countries, forming a physical or virtual centre with common objectives and coordination.
The main objectives of the NCoE-ICCC are to reinforce research of excellent scientific quality; create critical Nordic mass and added value; and increase the visible and attractive Nordic research in a European and global context. Participants from industry, policy makers and societal parties, should be included in the NCoE when relevant.

Further details on this call are available at:
https://funding.nordforsk.org/nordforsk/call/call.jsp?cid=34