The cryosphere refers to the frozen water features of our planet, including snow, glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice, and permafrost. Water resources and hazards that threaten human life, infrastructure, and commerce are influenced by the cryosphere.   

USGS cryospheric research provides scientific insight and unbiased data to our stakeholders and partners allowing them to:

• Develop water resources strategies.
• Plan for hazards like snow avalanches, flooding, drought, landslides, and coastal erosion.
• Develop resource plans for areas affected by snow, ice, or glaciers such as alpine, Arctic, and coastal ecosystems.

A recently published USGS fact sheet describes the importance of the cryosphere and highlights USGS research that benefits various partner agencies and the public. The factsheet also describes how stakeholders use USGS data and how local communities can benefit from USGS cryospheric science. For example, high-elevation weather station data and field observations in Glacier National Park, Montana are used to forecast snow avalanches that affect park roads, highways, and railroad lines. 

Click on the images below to learn more about two of the research efforts highlighted in the cryosphere fact sheet and how this research is used to protect transportation corridors, assist with water resource planning, and contribute to global assessments of glacier change.