The frozen world that holds 90 percent of our fresh water

Space · Published 7 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the world's most extreme environments, water doesn't flow; it freezes into a massive global regulator. From polar ice sheets to mountain glaciers, these regions dictate our climate and hold the majority of the planet's freshwater reserves, making them critical targets for satellite observation.

The cryosphere encompasses all parts of the Earth's surface where water exists in solid form. This includes snow, sea ice, glaciers, permafrost, icebergs, and massive ice sheets. Polar areas constitute the majority of this zone, even though it extends from equatorial mountains to both poles. In these landscapes, snowfall often refreezes, contributing to accumulations of ice that can date back thousands of millennia. Extending from the Equator's mountain chains to both poles, these icy zones exist across our planet. If a person can see the ground in these areas, it is already frozen.

The scale of this frozen reservoir is staggering. The ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland alone account for 90 percent of the planet's fresh water. These regions are not static; floating sea ice in the Arctic constantly cracks, shrinks, and expands. Because these areas regulate global climate, they are subject to intense scientific scrutiny. Currently, the Arctic is warming faster than any other spot on Earth. The Arctic's floating sea ice undergoes constant movement as it cracks and expands. These regions are vital because they serve as regulators for our global climate.

The primary concern for scientists involves the dramatic climate-driven changes occurring in these remote reaches. Specifically, receding and accelerating glaciers in Antarctica and Greenland pose a significant threat of sea level rise. To monitor these shifts, NASA utilizes a fleet of satellite-based sensors to observe regions where the ground may be hidden under miles of ice or remain perpetually frozen. NASA employs a variety of satellite-based sensors to track these remote locations. This technology allows researchers to study areas where ice can reach thicknesses of several miles.

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