Climate & Cryosphere

Climate, Snow, Ice and the Water We Depend On

Mountain snow and glaciers store water and influence river systems. As the climate warms, changing snow and ice can affect when water becomes available, creating consequences far beyond the mountains themselves.

Black Carbon Explained for Schools

Black carbon is a dark particle produced by incomplete combustion. It is part of air pollution and can also warm the atmosphere and darken snow and ice, making it an unusually clear example of how environmental problems can connect.