school energy&environment
Cryosphere
Similarly to the hydrosphere, that includes all the planet’s water in the liquid state, in any area and in any form that it may be present, or to the biosphere that consists of all the living organisms whatever kingdom they belong to, and whatever area they may live in, the cryosphere includes all the Earth’s ice. When we think of ice, the image that comes to our mind is that of the clean twinkling stretches of the glaciers, however the Earth’s ice may be found in many other forms, which at times are also well “hidden” and, surprisingly, also in unexpected geographic areas such as the centre of Africa!
Almost all the Earth’s ice consists of ice from glaciers or sea ice. Large quantities of frozen ice can also be found in the permafrost areas, trapped in the ground and in the rock crevices, but, as they cannot be seen directly, it is very difficult to quantify their volume and extension. Also caves can contain ice deposits, at times with the characteristics of glacier ice, more often with ice that formed by freezing: generally these are rather small quantities, but they represent a very precious data bank of the climate of the past.
subjects dealt with in Cryosphere
The Earth’s ice
Glaciers may exist only on two conditions: the first, which is quite obvious, is that the annual temperatures must be…
Where is ice found?
The “Antarctic ice sheet” actually consists of two distinct ice-sheets. A Western one, which is smaller and is anchored to…
Glaciers caves
Melting water on a glacier surface collects in small seasonal water streams that erode their bed in the ice, and…
special reports
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10 December 2019 / Water
In the fridge of the world
A fascinated continent Antarctica is a continent with a very particular charm. It was the last to be discovered and…
26 December 2019 / Water
Life in Antarctica
Moving in Antarctica How is it possible to live and work in Antarctica? Which sagacities must be used for a…
26 February 2014 / Water
How much water is on your plate?
Still waters run deep! This proverb reminds us how many times we have heard popular proverbs about water, and how…
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15 April 2014 / Water
How rich are we .... in blue gold?
The blue planet: water availability in the world 24 December 1968, a date of historical importance. The Earth was photographed…
8 July 2022 / Ecosystems
Who's coming to dinner
A shark in my hamburger Summer is finally here! As usual, we have waited for it all year long and…
26 August 2022 / Water
Which is coldest, the Arctic or Antarctica?
As we face the hottest summer in years, let's try to answer this refreshing question: is it colder at the…
-
7 October 2021 / Water
Water grabbing
“Clear, sweet fresh water,” wrote Petrarch, by many considered a precursor of Italian literature. Before him, St. Francis dedicated two…
17 May 2021 / Water
Lost ice
According to a study conducted by a French and Swiss research team recently published in the leading journal Nature, continental…
15 April 2021 / Water
Oceans of plastic
From the soles of shoes to contact lenses, from the smartphones we carry around in our pockets to the toothpaste…
-
10 December 2019 / Water
In the fridge of the world
A fascinated continent Antarctica is a continent with a very particular charm. It was the last to be discovered and…
26 December 2019 / Water
Life in Antarctica
Moving in Antarctica How is it possible to live and work in Antarctica? Which sagacities must be used for a…
-
26 February 2014 / Water
How much water is on your plate?
Still waters run deep! This proverb reminds us how many times we have heard popular proverbs about water, and how…
15 April 2014 / Water
How rich are we .... in blue gold?
The blue planet: water availability in the world 24 December 1968, a date of historical importance. The Earth was photographed…
-
8 July 2022 / Ecosystems
Who's coming to dinner
A shark in my hamburger Summer is finally here! As usual, we have waited for it all year long and…
26 August 2022 / Water
Which is coldest, the Arctic or Antarctica?
As we face the hottest summer in years, let's try to answer this refreshing question: is it colder at the…
-
7 October 2021 / Water
Water grabbing
“Clear, sweet fresh water,” wrote Petrarch, by many considered a precursor of Italian literature. Before him, St. Francis dedicated two…
17 May 2021 / Water
Lost ice
According to a study conducted by a French and Swiss research team recently published in the leading journal Nature, continental…
-
15 April 2021 / Water
Oceans of plastic
From the soles of shoes to contact lenses, from the smartphones we carry around in our pockets to the toothpaste…
-
10 December 2019 / Water
In the fridge of the world
A fascinated continent Antarctica is a continent with a very particular charm. It was the last to be discovered and…
-
26 December 2019 / Water
Life in Antarctica
Moving in Antarctica How is it possible to live and work in Antarctica? Which sagacities must be used for a…
-
26 February 2014 / Water
How much water is on your plate?
Still waters run deep! This proverb reminds us how many times we have heard popular proverbs about water, and how…
-
15 April 2014 / Water
How rich are we .... in blue gold?
The blue planet: water availability in the world 24 December 1968, a date of historical importance. The Earth was photographed…
-
8 July 2022 / Ecosystems
Who's coming to dinner
A shark in my hamburger Summer is finally here! As usual, we have waited for it all year long and…
-
26 August 2022 / Water
Which is coldest, the Arctic or Antarctica?
As we face the hottest summer in years, let's try to answer this refreshing question: is it colder at the…
-
7 October 2021 / Water
Water grabbing
“Clear, sweet fresh water,” wrote Petrarch, by many considered a precursor of Italian literature. Before him, St. Francis dedicated two…
-
17 May 2021 / Water
Lost ice
According to a study conducted by a French and Swiss research team recently published in the leading journal Nature, continental…
-
15 April 2021 / Water
Oceans of plastic
From the soles of shoes to contact lenses, from the smartphones we carry around in our pockets to the toothpaste…
from the Multimedia section
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