The Cryosphere

by Shawn J. Marshall

The cryosphere encompasses the Earth's snow and ice masses. It is a critical part of our planet's climate system, one that is especially at risk from climate change and global warming. The Cryosphere provides an essential introduction to the subject, written by one of the world's leading experts in Earth-system science.

In this primer, glaciologist Shawn Marshall introduces readers to the cryosphere and the broader role it plays in our global climate system. After giving a concise overview, he fully explains each component of the cryosphere and how it works--seasonal snow, permafrost, river and lake ice, sea ice, glaciers, ice sheets, and ice shelves. Marshall describes how snow and ice interact with our atmosphere and oceans and how they influence climate, sea level, and ocean circulation. He looks at the cryosphere's role in past ice ages and considers the changing cryosphere's future impact on our landscape, oceans, and climate.

Accessible and authoritative, this primer also features a glossary of key terms, suggestions for further reading, explanations of equations, and a discussion of open research questions in the field.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Climate Change, Planetary Science

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2011

Reviews

[Tatiana Zhandarmova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good! I enjoyed this a lot. Much of the sections on thermodynamics went over my head, but I'm sure I'll understand it at a later point in my studies. For the time being, this was perfect for me to explore my new interest on ice and glaciers!!

[C.E. Cannery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going to read this one again to try to absorb it better now that not in college. Pretty dense as I recall. Definitely need some background in physics to read this, but covers a surprisingly wide range of icy topics. There was everything from snowflake formation to behaviors of glaciers.