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Cryospheric Sciences at the U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2024-3043
Land Change Science
By: , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20243043

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Introduction

The cryosphere is the collective parts of the Earth where water is in its frozen state and includes snow, glaciers, ice sheets, ice shelves, freshwater ice, sea ice, and permafrost. The cryosphere is a climate indicator and climate regulator. Surface cryosphere features, such as glaciers, snow, and sea ice, store freshwater and make the surface of the Earth bright white, which affects how much energy from the sun is absorbed or reflected by the planet. The subsurface cryosphere, such as permafrost and ground ice, stores water and other materials, including carbon, nutrients, heavy metals, and viruses. Carbon storage in permafrost is one way the cryosphere regulates the Earth's climate. Changes to the cryosphere indicate the state of the Earth's climate. The cryosphere spans many regions of the Earth, from subtropical regions of the Himalayas to polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctica, and intersects many of the Earth's spheres, including the lithosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere.

Suggested Citation

Florentine, C., Peitzsch, E., Jones, M., Barnhart, T., and Cronin, T., 2024, Cryospheric sciences at the U.S. Geological Survey: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2024–3043, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20243043.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • U.S. Geological Survey Cryospheric Sciences Expertise
  • Stakeholders and Effects of U.S. Geological Survey Cryospheric Sciences
  • Conclusion
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Cryospheric sciences at the U.S. Geological Survey
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2024-3043
DOI 10.3133/fs20243043
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston VA
Contributing office(s) Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
Description 4 p.
Online Only (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details