The cryosphere is the part of the Earthâ s surface where water is in solid form , including sea ice , lake ice , river ice , snow cover , glaciers , ice caps and ice sheets , and frozen ground ( which includes permafrost ) . The cryosphere ( from the Greek cryos `` cold '' , `` frost '' or `` ice '' ) is the term which collectively describes the portions of the Earthâ s surface where water is in solid form , including sea ice , lake ice , river ice , snow cover , glaciers , ice caps and ice sheets , and frozen ground ( which includes permafrost ) .