Cryosphere
As cryosphere [ kryosfɛ ː rə ] ( from Ancient Greek κρύος Cryos "cold" or " ice " ) refers to the portion of the surface of a planet that is covered by ice. These include:
- Sea ice
- Ice
- Shelf
- Mountain glaciers
- Ice in permafrost
- Snow-covered surfaces
- Ice in ice caves
The cryosphere is an area of the hydrosphere, an earthly sphere of the earth. It is of crucial importance for the climate system of the planet, as it has a large reflectivity ( albedo).