Cryosphere and Environmental Change

The cryosphere is that portion of the Earth's surface where water is in solid form. This includes sea ice, river ice, glaciers, permafrost, etc. The cryosphere is an integral part of the climate system with feedbacks and linkages with clouds, moisture fluxes, atmospheric and oceanic circulation. Various physical properties of snow and ice affect the energy exchanges between the surface and the atmosphere. Some of these properties include surface reflectance, thermal diffusivity, latent heat, etc. The environmental change observed in terms of global warming results in major changes to the partitioning of snow and rainfall. It also affects the timing of snowmelt. The field of study dedicated to the study of cryosphere is known as cryology. This book strives to provide a fair idea about this discipline and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within this field. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this book an invaluable source of knowledge.