The cryosphere is a term for the parts of Earth where water is in solid form (frozen).

Our cryosphere includes sea ice, lake ice, river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets and frozen ground. Cryospheric ecosystems currently cover nearly 20% of the Earth.

As our climate changes, our cryosphere changes with it. For example, the increased melting of snow and ice caused by a warming planet enables more solar energy to be absorbed by land or water, which in turn leads to more warming. This is known as the snow-or ice-albedo feedback loop.

pathways:

07.07.2022 / National Snow and Ice Data Center / All About the Cryosphere

31.05.2022 / Copernicus Climate Change Service / Cryosphere