Ice and snow on Earth modulate and modify the climate, chemistry and fate of air and water pollutants. Climate change is drastically impacting Nature and extent of the cryosphere, with attendant feedbacks on atmospheric composition and climate. These changes are happening at a rate that outpaces the development of fundamental knowledge of processes that occur within/on the surfaces of ice and snow, confounding our ability to develop a predictive capability for future states of the Earth environment.This set, comprising 17 chapters, written by world experts on these topics, are thus intended to document the current state of understanding of the structure, physical properties, abundance, and chemical and microbiological processes that occur within/on ice and snow in all Earth environments in which it exists, and to express needs for improvement of that understanding. This, only comprehensive treatise/collection that covers environmentally relevant chemistry and related physical aspects of snow and ice in the Earth system, and the connections to climate change, will be accessible to those with introductory college-level understanding of chemistry and physics.

"Ice and snow on Earth modulate and modify the climate, chemistry and fate of air and water pollutants. Climate change is drastically impacting Nature and extent of the cryosphere, with attendant feedbacks on atmospheric composition and climate. These changes are happening at a rate that outpaces the development of fundamental knowledge of processes that occur within/on the surfaces of ice and snow, confounding our ability to develop a predictive capability for future states of the Earth environment"--

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for assessing the science related to climate change. It provides policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of human-induced climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. This IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate is the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the observed and projected changes to the ocean and cryosphere and their associated impacts and risks, with a focus on resilience, risk management response options, and adaptation measures, considering both their potential and limitations. It brings together knowledge on physical and biogeochemical changes, the interplay with ecosystem changes, and the implications for human communities. It serves policymakers, decision makers, stakeholders, and all interested parties with unbiased, up-to-date, policy-relevant information. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.