Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.
3) What do you understand by cryosphere. Discuss how it affects the earth’s climate.(250 words)
Why this question
Cryosphere is a large and important component of our earth, which has a profound impact and in turn is hugely impacted by the climate and climate change. The question is related to GS1 syllabus under the following heading-
Salient features of world’s physical geography.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to describe the term cryosphere and then discuss how it affects our climate.
Directive word
Discuss- we have to write in detail about the meaning of the term as well as how it is related to our climate and how they influence each other.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– Give a brief definition of the term, Cryosphere.
Body–
- Describe the term further and mention that it is intricately linked to the global climate.
- Discuss in points how the cryosphere affects the climate of the world.
e.g Albedo- cooling of earth, feedback loop- results when ice melts and then this decreases albedo and more ice-melt occurs, storage of carbon in the polar ice etc.
Conclusion- Give a fair and balanced opinion on the importance of cryosphere and mention the efforts of MOES in this direction.
