1. The portion of Earth's surface and atmosphere where water is frozen, including ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, and permafrost.
Usage: scientific/technical term; typically used in singular form

Examples

• The cryosphere plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate and sea levels.
• Melting ice in the cryosphere is a major indicator of global warming.
• Scientists study the cryosphere to understand changes in polar regions.
• The Antarctic cryosphere contains about 90 percent of the world's ice.
• Rising temperatures are causing rapid shrinkage of the cryosphere in the Arctic.