The characteristics of ice clouds with a wide range of optical depths are studied based on satellite retrievals and radiative transfer modeling. Results show that the global-mean ice cloud optical depth, ice water path, and effective radius are approximately 2, 109 g m−2, and 48μm, respectively. Ice cloud occurrence frequency varies depending not only on regions and seasons, but also on the types of ice clouds as defined by optical depthτvalues. Ice clouds with differentτvalues show differently preferential locations on the planet; optically thinner ones (τ< 3) are most frequently observed in the tropics around 15 km and in midlatitudes below 5 km, while thicker ones (τ< 3) occur frequently in tropical convective areas and along midlatitude storm tracks. It is also found that ice water content and effective radius show different temperature dependence among the tropics, midlatitudes, and high latitudes. Based on analyzed ice cloud frequencies and microphysical properties, cloud radiative forcing is evaluated using a radiative transfer model. The results show that globally radiative forcing due to ice clouds introduces a net warming of the earth–atmosphere system. Those withτ< 4.0 all have a positive (warming) net forcing with the largest contribution by ice clouds withτ∼ 1.2. Regionally, ice clouds in high latitudes show a warming effect throughout the year, while they cause cooling during warm seasons but warming during cold seasons in midlatitudes. Ice cloud properties revealed in this study enhance the understanding of ice cloud climatology and can be used for validating climate models.