Which of the following is an example of water transferring from the atmosphere to the cryosphere?

• A. Sublimation of ice directly into water vapor
• B. Evaporation from the surface of a lake
• C. Melting of sea ice into the ocean
• D. Snowfall accumulating on a glacier

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the key terms: The atmosphere refers to the layer of gases surrounding Earth, and the cryosphere refers to frozen water parts of Earth, such as glaciers, ice caps, and sea ice. Water transferring from the atmosphere to the cryosphere involves processes where water moves from the air to frozen regions.
2. Analyze the options: Sublimation of ice into water vapor involves ice turning directly into gas, which is a transfer from the cryosphere to the atmosphere, not the other way around.
3. Evaluate evaporation: Evaporation is the process where liquid water turns into water vapor and moves into the atmosphere. This is a transfer from the hydrosphere to the atmosphere, not to the cryosphere.
4. Consider melting of sea ice: Melting of sea ice into the ocean involves frozen water turning into liquid water, which is a transfer from the cryosphere to the hydrosphere, not from the atmosphere to the cryosphere.
5. Focus on snowfall: Snowfall accumulating on a glacier involves water vapor in the atmosphere condensing into snow and depositing onto a glacier, which is a direct transfer of water from the atmosphere to the cryosphere. This matches the correct answer.