The shrinking cryosphere demands collaborative and inclusive approaches to improve our knowledge of its dynamics amidst climate change.

This Perspective reviews the current understanding of groundwater recharge by meltwater, discusses the scales at which cryosphere–groundwater interactions are relevant, identifies key cryo-hydrogeological processes that need further study, and emphasizes the critical importance of these interactions for current and future water availability in mountain regions.

Using stable isotopes, this study introduces an indicator of dynamic water retention that shows river flow dynamics are influenced by land use and hydroclimate characteristics, helping categorize catchment responses and improving water resource management.

This study addresses the limitations and constraints of flood adaptation. These limits could result in a growing ‘adaptation gap’ (the difference between actual and desirable flood risk), leading to unbearable risks and pushing communities in flood zones into retreat.

For millennia, permafrost landscapes have gradually grown the foundation for a capillary hydrologic system. It is now being activated by unusual warmth.

Solar-powered hygroscopic gels adsorb moisture derived from crop transpiration and soil evaporation at night and release it back into soil under sunlight during the day via a facile device, enabling recycling of irrigation water in greenhouses.

Fieldwork isn’t just about collecting data — it’s a deeply immersive experience that connects cryosphere researchers directly to the landscapes they study. Each moment in the field, across the permafrost, snow, and glaciers, fosters a profound appreciation for the responses of these environments to the changing climate and human activities. Nature Water asked three experts about their experiences and insights into fieldwork.

A considerable portion of human water usage is allocated to agriculture, yet optimizing water resources remains a persistent challenge. A promising solution lies in solar-powered technology integrated with hygroscopic porous gel, which captures water vapour from both plant transpiration and soil evaporation. This approach holds potential to enhance water utilization efficiency within greenhouses.

Even though approaches to artificially reduce local glacier melt have been developed, they face considerable challenges on the larger scale. To mitigate the negative effects of an imminent loss of mountain glaciers, preserving the ice by reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains the most effective solution.