Published on 31 Jan 2025
The cryosphere refers to the portion of the Earth's surface where water is in solid form, including ice and snow. This includes various components of the Earth's system, such as glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, snow cover, sea ice, permafrost, and frozen lakes and rivers.
Significance of cryosphere
Global Climate: The cryosphere reflects sunlight, regulating global climate by maintaining high albedo surfaces that reflect heat away.
Sea Level: The cryosphere stores freshwater, impacting sea levels. Monitoring changes is crucial for coastal regions and low-lying areas.
Water Supply: Glacial melt feeds rivers, acting as a natural reservoir. Cryospheric changes affect water availability for communities, agriculture, and ecosystems.
Biodiversity: Polar and alpine ecosystems depend on the cryosphere. Species like polar bears rely on sea ice for habitat and hunting.
Climate Feedback: Changes in the cryosphere trigger feedback mechanisms, influencing global climate patterns and temperature regulation.
Cultural Impact: Indigenous communities in Polar Regions have cultural ties to the cryosphere, facing social and cultural impacts due to changes.
Tourism: The cryosphere attracts tourists and adventure seekers. Alterations, such as glacier retreat, affect tourism and recreational activities.
Scientific Research: The cryosphere serves as a natural laboratory. Studying ice cores and permafrost provides insights into Earth's climate history, aiding climate research.
Temperature increase and changes in cryosphere
Glacial melting: Warmer temperatures lead to increased melting at the glacier's lower elevations, potentially causing a net loss of ice mass over time. This contributes to rising sea levels and changes in river discharge.
Reduction in ice caps and ice sheets: This can result in the calving of icebergs from ice shelves and a net loss of ice mass. Notable examples include the retreat of glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica.
Thawing permafrost: Thawing permafrost can lead to ground subsidence, changes in landscape features, and the release of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.
Changes in alpine ecosystems: Shifts in the distribution of plant and animal species, changes in vegetation cover, and alterations in hydrological patterns can occur as a result of warming in these areas.
Sea level increase: The melting of glaciers, ice caps, and ice sheets, along with the thermal expansion of seawater, contributes to rising sea levels.
Geography
Cryosphere
Significance of cryosphere
permafrost
Temperature increase and changes in cryosphere
snow cover
General Studies Paper 1
Physical Geography