1. Plural of cryosphere; the portions of Earth's surface where water is frozen, including ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, and permafrost.
Usage: scientific; typically used in plural or as a collective term in climate and environmental science

Examples

• The cryospheres of the Arctic and Antarctic are shrinking due to global warming.
• Scientists study cryospheres to understand changes in Earth's climate system.
• Mountain cryospheres, such as glaciers in the Himalayas, provide fresh water to billions of people.
• The loss of cryospheres contributes to rising sea levels worldwide.
• Permafrost in the cryospheres releases methane as it thaws.