Earth’s Cryosphere, 2023, Vol. XXVII, No. 4, p. 47-50.

CRYOSOPHY

UNDERSTANDING THE CRYOLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY – THE STAGE OF CREATING A HOLISTIC IMAGE OF THE EARTH’S CRYOSPHERE

V.P. Melnikov1–3,*, R.Yu. Fedorov1,2

1 Earth Cryosphere Institute, Tyumen Scientific Center of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Malygina St. 86, Tyumen, 625026 Russia
2 Institute of Cryology and Cryosophy, University of Tyumen, Volodarskogo St. 6, Tyumen, 625003 Russia
3 Tyumen Industrial University, Volodarskogo St. 38, Tyumen, 625000 Russia
*Corresponding author; e-mail: melnikov@ikz.ru

In the first decades of the 21st century, the need of changing the paradigm of cryology has become obvious. This changing is based on two main approaches. One of them is related to transition from considering the cryosphere as a threat for people to its interpretation as one of the key environmental resources supporting life support on the planet. The second approach is based on the need to build a holistic image of the Earth’s cryosphere. Considering the Earth’s cryosphere as a complex system consisting of cold layers of the atmosphere, glaciosphere, and subterranean permafrost, we come to the need to analyze previous terms identifying object areas that study the world of cold. Ideas about the cryosphere and cryology were formulated in 1974. Modern interpretation of the object and the subject of research was the result of many long-term disputes. Currently, the term geocryology remains to be used as a synonym for science of permafrost. However, in the process of building a holistic image of the Earth’s cryosphere, it is necessary to create the properties and state of the entire object as a whole and create new terms and concepts that can reflect the expanding contexts of studying cryogenic processes, their ontological hierarchy, systems connections, etc. In this situation, the philosophy of science is designed to become a kind of source of generation of new images, concepts, and meanings.

Keywords: cryosphere, holism, terminology, science of permafrost, geocryology, cryolithology.

Recommended citation: Melnikov V.P., Fedorov R.Yu., 2023. Understanding the cryological terminology – the stage of creating a holistic image of the Earth’s cryosphere. Earth’s Cryosphere XXVII (4), 47–50.