Learn | National Snow And Ice Data Center

1. Home
2. Learn

Learn

Quick facts, basic science, and information about snow, ice, and why the cryosphere matters

The cryosphere includes all of the snow and ice-covered regions across the planet. Explore our scientific content about what makes up this frozen realm, its importance to Earth's people, plants and animals, and what climate change means for the cryosphere and the world at large.

Pick an area of interest

What is the cryosphere?

This section is your introduction to the frozen parts of our planet. Learn where the cryosphere lies and how it influences life on our planet. Dive deeper into each feature below.Learn more

Arctic weather & climate

The Arctic is known as Earth's refrigerator. Land surrounds a cold ocean, which is covered by a thin layer of perennial sea ice and snow. How do these white surfaces affect weather and climate, both global and regional?Learn more

Frozen ground & permafrost

More than half of all the land in the Northern Hemisphere freezes and thaws every year, while a quarter of the land has an underground layer that stays frozen all year long. How has life learned to thrive in such a harsh environment?Learn more

Glaciers

Two categories of glaciers exist: ice sheets and alpine glaciers. Ice sheets cover vast areas of land in broad domes. Alpine glaciers, are smaller, and found not only at the poles, but in high mountain regions across the globe.Learn more

Ice sheets

During a series of Pleistocene Ice Ages, vast areas of our planet were covered by land. As the planet warmed, about 12,000 years ago, the ice sheets retreated to two major land areas, Greenland in the Northern Hemisphere and Antarctica in theLearn more

Ice shelves

This part of the cryosphere is an extension of land ice that spreads out over cold ocean waters. Since they are key in regulating glacial movement, they are an indirect, yet critical component to sea level rise.Learn more

Sea ice

When the surfaces of bodies of water reach their freezing point, layers of ice form. Sea ice is unique in that the water must be colder than fresh water to freeze. As such, the polar regions are cold enough to allow sea ice to form.Learn more

Snow

When most people think of the cold parts of Earth, they think of snow. Snow is much more important to the planet than simply for recreational purposes. Learn how it impacts wildlife, communities, and the global climate.Learn more

Ask a scientist

Visit this area to read common questions that have been asked of our scientists and staff. Feel free to suggest your own question.Learn more

Cryosphere glossary

Words matter and their meanings even more so. Search for a specific word or browse the many interesting words characteristic of the cryosphere.Learn more

You might be interested in our scientific analyses and news

Sea Ice Today

View near-real-time data images of sea ice conditions in both polar regions and explore a rich archive of scientific analyses from 2006-2025.Read more

Ice Sheets Today

Track annual surface melt conditions on Earth's polar ice sheets and read scientific analysis from our international collaborators.Read more

Snow Today

Read seasonal analysis of snow conditions in the western United States and explore a variety of near-real-time data on snow.Read more

News and Stories

Discover how NSIDC research and data at NSIDC are being used to make a difference across the planet and how you can use our data and resources for your own projects.Read more

Photo and Video Galleries

Witness the beauty of Earth's disappearing features, captured by NSIDC staff and partners.Read more

Ask a Scientist

Read common questions that have been asked of our scientists and staff. Feel free to suggest your own question.Read more

• News & Analyses
  • News & Stories
  • Sea Ice Today
  • Ice Sheets Today
  • Snow Today
  • About our Analyses
  • Multimedia
• Data
  • Explore Data
  • Visualize Data
  • Submit Data
  • User Resources
    • Get Started with Data
    • Data Announcements
    • Help Center
    • Data Tools
    • Documents
    • Levels of Service
    • NASA Earthdata Forum
  • Data Programs
    • About our Programs
    • NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center (NSIDC DAAC)
    • NOAA at NSIDC
    • Exchange for Observations and Local Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA)
  • Data Policies
• Our Research
• Learn
  • What is the Cryosphere?
  • Parts of the Cryosphere
    • Arctic Weather & Climate
    • Frozen Ground & Permafrost
    • Glaciers
    • Ice Sheets
    • Ice Shelves
    • Sea Ice
    • Snow
  • Ask a Scientist
  • Cryosphere glossary
• About
  • About NSIDC
    • What We Do
    • Our People
    • Published Research
    • Our History
    • Careers
  • For the Media
  • Contact Us
  • Citation Policies
  • Protecting Your Privacy
  • Land Acknowledgement