Rapid changes in polar and high mountain regions are affecting both local and global communities and it is likely such changes and impacts will increase over the coming century. These ‘cold’ regions are intrinsically complex, under-observed systems where the ocean, the atmosphere, the cryosphere and the biosphere are often strongly interconnected. Improved projections of future changes and their impacts, both local and remote, thus require integrative studies which combine understanding of the feedbacks across multiple components of the climate system. This session encourages submissions that take an integrative view of cryosphere systems, including model synthesis and intercomparison, long-term and large-scale observations and system approaches to cryosphere changes. The focus is on changes over the last century, as well as future projections and includes projects supported by the Climate and Cryosphere Program of the World Climate and Research Program.