Digital Sciences for the Sustainable High Mountain and Arctic Regions

This session, "Digital Sciences for the Sustainable High Mountain and Arctic Regions," explores the significant advancements since the HiMAC initiative's inception in 2017. Over the past years, we've witnessed a rapid evolution—from foundational Earth Observation networks to sophisticated large-scale data processing and penetrative sensing techniques vital for understanding the cryosphere in High Mountain Asia (HMA) and the Arctic. We will delve into key progress in comparative regional studies, the development and standardization of valuable data products, and the application of these digital tools to enhance disaster resilience and water resource management. Furthermore, the emergence and integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are opening new frontiers. These developments are crucial for providing vital information services and supporting sustainable development, particularly within global cold region and the Belt and Road regions. This session aims to foster discussion on these achievements, current challenges, and future directions post-2025, examining the practical impact from technology and data to actionable services.