On Oct. 23^rd, 2007, the 2^nd Asia Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) symposium, engaged in a wholesale assessment of Asian cryosphere under global warming, was held in Lanzhou, inviting and attracting over 150 scientific staff from 15 countries.

As the fifth sphere besides atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere, the cryosphere is very sensitive to the climate and giving strong feedbacks to the climate changes. Cryosphere in China include glaciers, permafrost and snow, covering a large area and providing valuable water resources for economic development and ecosystem sustainability in the arid regions.

Bearing this in mind, the symposium tended to promote the research level of Chinese scientists in cryospheric studies, to enhance international cooperation, and to create a benign environment for the grownup of Chinese young scientists. Scientific staff participating the symposium focused on the following subjects as 1) glacial distribution and variation, 2) status quo of permafrost and its changes, 3) snow/water and water resources in cold regions, 4) forecasting and prediction of the cryospheric variation, 4) future international collaborations on cryospheric study, and so on.