How does the cryosphere affect global climate?
Cryosphere is that part of the earth made of frozen water and soil. It induces glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, permafrost, snow-covered regions, river ice, frozen ground, lake ice, etc.
Cryosphere affects the global climate in a significant way. Due to global warming, there has been loss of global ice cover leading to further environmental change. The cryosphere is an excellent indicator of short term and long term climate change. It plays on important role in global water cycle.
The cryosphere plays an important role in keeping the earth cool. Due to high albedo (reflectivity of incoming solar radiation), the cryosphere prevents the heating up of the earth. On the other hand, oceans absorb radiation and add to rise of global mean temperatures. It is feared that global warming would result in the defrosting and melting of global ice which would in turn act as a strong positive feedback and further accelerate global warming.
The melting of global ice cap would
- Increase/ accelerate global warming
- Have adverse environmental impact in those regions.
- Increase sea level in oceans.
- Increase methane level in atmosphere ( since defragging of permafrost would result in escape of the Carbon trapped with is the soil)
Thus, cryosphere plays an important role in global climate.
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