Study finds global cryosphere degradation accelerating

A new international study has found that the global cryosphere is degrading at an accelerating pace, with some changes potentially irreversible, posing long-term risks to Earth's ecosystems and human societies.

The cryosphere, which includes glaciers, ice sheets, permafrost, sea ice and snow cover, holds about 70% of the Earth's freshwater resources, but is rapidly shrinking. Its degradation has already affected water security, ecosystems and infrastructure worldwide.

Researchers from Stockholm University in Sweden, Tsinghua University in China, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany and other institutions and international organizations published the study on the journal Science on Friday.

Using the planetary boundaries framework, the researchers systematically assessed the role of the cryosphere in maintaining the stability of the Earth system. They defined its safe operating space based on the Holocene, which began about 11,700 years ago and was characterized by relatively stable climate and environmental conditions.

The study found that the global cryosphere has exceeded its safe operating space and is degrading at an accelerating pace, with some changes potentially irreversible. Some key indicators have already deviated from the relatively stable conditions of the Holocene, while further deviations in other indicators are becoming increasingly difficult to avoid.

The reinforcing interactions between cryosphere degradation and global warming could further accelerate the trend, exposing human societies and ecosystems to long-term risks.

Researchers warned that the cryosphere's transgression of its safe operating space means the frozen environmental foundations that have supported human civilization for thousands of years are under threat.

The study identified human-induced climate change as the main driver of cryosphere degradation, while black carbon emissions, industrial activities and infrastructure expansion further intensify degradation in some regions.

Researchers called on countries to adopt more ambitious emission reduction targets and reduce human disturbances in cryosphere-sensitive areas.