Why is the Terrestrial Cryosphere Important?
The terrestrial cryosphere is important because it forms a major component of the Earth’s hydrologic system, and has significant influence on global weather and climate. Seasonal snow cover and glaciers store large amounts of fresh water, and are therefore critical components of the hydrologic cycle. Likewise, seasonal and permanent frost in soils reduce both infiltration into and migration of water through soils, thus severely reducing the amount of water that can be stored in soils. By reducing infiltration, frozen soils can dramatically increase the runoff generated from melting snow, and are often associated with devastating snowmelt floods.The importance of seasonally and permanently frozen land surfaces extends far beyond hydrologic processes. These areas also influence global weather and climate systems, the geosphere and the biosphere. For example, depending on whether surface water is in the liquid or frozen state, there can be important consequences for surface albedo and net
