Cryosphere, climate change effects

The cryosphere is a very important part of the global climate system, and many important properties can be derived using remote sensing. The cryosphere played a significant role in the past changes of the earth’s climate. Because of its high reflectivity (albedo) of solar radiation, shrinkage of the cryosphere coverage on the earth’s surface would induce a higher absorption of the solar radiation by the earth’s climate system which would enhance warming. A seasonal ice-free Arctic would enhance the hydrological cycle there, which will significantly affect human and marine life in the pan-Arctic region. A possible melt of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets in the future would raise the global sea level markedly. Studies show that the climate was only a few degrees warmer during the last interglacial period than now and that the sea level was about 3–6 m higher. At that time, a very large portion of the Greenland ice sheet melted. If the sea level were to rise by 3 m in the next century or so, by the melting of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, human activities would be impacted in a momentous way.