cryosphere
Planet's frozen parts
The cryosphere is the portion of Earth's surface where water exists in frozen form—glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice, permafrost, and snow cover.
Climate scientists use the term when discussing how frozen regions interact with oceans and atmosphere: Melting of the cryosphere contributes to rising sea levels.
The word combines Greek *kryos* (cold) with sphere.
Slow-moving ice mass
- icebergFloating glacial fragment
- ice sheetThick glacial landmass covering
- ice shelfFloating glacial extension
- sea iceFrozen ocean surface
pack ice · firn · rime · hoarfrost · icicle · snowflake · hail · sleet
Study of ice masses
- hydrologyScience of water distribution
- climatologyScientific study of atmospheric patterns
- paleoclimatologyStudy of prehistoric climates
- geophysicsPhysics of planetary structure
oceanography · limnology · albedo · isostasy · mass balance · ablation · accumulation · sea level
Earth's northernmost zone
- AntarcticSouthern polar region
- GreenlandLargest island on Earth
- SvalbardNorwegian Arctic archipelago
- ice capPermanent dome-shaped glacier
polar bears · penguins · seals · krill · whales · Inuit · Sami · icebreaker
Frigid treeless biome
- frozen groundSoil solidified by cold
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
- thawingFrozen matter liquefying
subsidence · polygons · perennial · peat · boreal
Rising planetary temperatures
- meltingSolid-to-liquid transition
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- feedback loopSelf-modifying cyclical process
- sea level riseIncreasing ocean surface height
ice loss · shrinkage · climate change · carbon cycle · warming · thaw · meltwater · glacial lake
glacier
Slow-moving ice mass
- icebergFloating glacial fragment
- ice sheetThick glacial landmass covering
- ice shelfFloating glacial extension
sea ice · pack ice · firn · rime · hoarfrost · icicle · snowflake · hail · sleet · frost
glaciology
Study of ice masses
- hydrologyScience of water distribution
- climatologyScientific study of atmospheric patterns
- paleoclimatologyStudy of prehistoric climates
geophysics · oceanography · limnology · albedo · isostasy · mass balance · ablation · accumulation · sea level · climate modeling
Arctic
Earth's northernmost zone
ice cap · polar bears · penguins · seals · krill · whales · Inuit · Sami · icebreaker · aurora borealis
tundra
Frigid treeless biome
- frozen groundSoil solidified by cold
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
global warming
Rising planetary temperatures
- meltingSolid-to-liquid transition
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- feedback loopSelf-modifying cyclical process
sea level rise · ice loss · shrinkage · climate change · carbon cycle · warming · thaw · meltwater · glacial lake · tipping point
cryospherethermosphere
High-temperature atmospheric zone
magma · molten core · volcanic regions · hydrothermal vents · hot springs
sphere, crystal, atmosphere, spherical, permafrost, stratosphere, cryogenics, cryostat, cryotherapy