ScienceJuly 9, 2026
cryosphere
/ˈkraɪ.oʊˌsfɪər/
Definition
The portions of the Earth's surface where water is in solid form, including sea ice, lake and river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, and frozen ground.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Greek 'kryos' (meaning icy cold or frost) and 'sphaira' (meaning globe or ball). It was coined in the 19th century as a scientific term to describe the frozen water component of the Earth system.
In the news
In the article, the cryosphere is identified as one of the essential physical components that climate models must simulate to accurately represent the Earth's climate system.
How Attribution Science Uses Models to Uncover Climate Change’s Effects on Weather
Read the full article ↗The Equation - Union of Concerned Scientists