ClimateAugust 26, 2026

cryospheric

kray-oh-SFIR-ik

Definition

Relating to the cryosphere, which consists of the frozen water parts of the Earth's system, including sea ice, lake ice, river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, and frozen ground (permafrost).

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'kryos' (meaning icy cold or frost) and 'sphaira' (meaning globe or sphere). It was coined to describe the collective zones of the Earth where water is in a solid, frozen state.

In the news

In the article, the term is used to describe the identification of hazards related to frozen landscapes, highlighting the importance of monitoring the stability of ice-rich regions on the Tibetan Plateau.

Scientists map rock glaciers on plateau

Read the full article ↗

China Daily

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