Abstract:The cryosphere is one of the five major spheres of the climate system. It plays an important role in the earth system with its huge fresh water reserves, latent heat of phase transitions, greenhouse gases, and unique species and cultural structures. The formation, change mechanism, and process of cryosphere; the interactions with atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere; the influences and adaptations of cryosphere change; the service functions for regional and global economy and society all together have rapidly developed into a new interdisciplinary discipline, which is called Cryosphere Science. Being consistent with the directions advocated by the "Future Earth" and the "Earth Commission", the establishment and development of the scientific system of the Cryosphere Science is internationally forward looking.