The State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences(SKLC) jointly established by CAREERI, CAS, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research CAS and Chinese Academy of Meteorological science, China Meteorological Administration, is the core research entity. KLCE focuses on the cryosphere and climatic changes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), the 3rd Pole. The faculties from the KLCE also conduct research on modern snow and ice process, ice-cores, changes of mountainous glaciers and ice sheets and their impacts on water resource and environments in Antarctica and Arctic. The research objects include modern glaciers and glacial moraines, snow, frozen soils and other cold regions media dynamic changes of cryospheric processes and regimes, interactions among the components of the cryosphere and with other spheres at various temporal and spatial scales, paleoclimate reconstruction based on the ice core records. Forecast of future trends of change in snow-and ice-melt water resources which can provide scientific basis for decision-making for social and economic development in West China.