EarthLabs > Climate and the Cryosphere > Lab 1: Getting to Know
the Cryosphere > 1C: The Changing Cryosphere  Getting to Know
the Cryosphere  The Changing Cryosphere  Tour of the Cryosphere
The Earth is constantly changing all around us. Some changes,
like a shift in the direction of a breeze, may be subtle. Other
changes, like the landfall of a hurricane, are far more
dramatic. Sometimes, subtle changes that occur over an extended
period of time can suddenly become dramatic events, like when
years of increasing temperatures and ice-melt result in the
collapse of an entire ice shelf. Changes in Earth's systems,
including changes in the cryosphere, could potentially have
profound consequences for life as we know it. (See the Earth
System Intro for more information about Earth's systems.)  The
cryosphere, particularly in the polar regions, is extremely
sensitive to changes in global climate. Therefore, understanding
how and why the cryosphere changes over time in response to both
natural and human influences i