The cryosphere encompasses all the Earth’s frozen water, including glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, sea ice, snow, and permafrost. The cryosphere plays a critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate by reflecting solar radiation and influencing sea levels. Understanding the cryosphere is essential for studying climate change, hydrology, and global sea-level rise.
Reference: IPCC (2019). The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report.