The polar regions, perhaps more than any other places on Earth, give the geophysical scientist a sense of exploration. This sensibility is genuine, for not only is high-latitude ?eldwork arduous with many locations seldom or never visited, but there remains much fundamental knowledge yet to be discovered about how the polar regions interact with the global climate system. The range of opportunities for new discovery becomes strikingly clear when we realize that the high latitudes are not one region but are really two vastly di?erent worlds. The high Arctic is a frozen ocean surrounded by land, and is home to fragile ecosystems and unique modes of human habitation. The Antarctic is a frozen continent without regular human habitation, covered by ice sheets taller than many mountain ranges and surrounded by the Earth's most forbidding ocean. When we consider global change as applied to the Arctic, we discuss impacts to a region whose surface and lower atmospheric temperatures are near the triple point of water throughout much of the year. The most consistent signatures of climate warming have occurred at northern high latitudes (IPCC, 2001), and the potential impacts of a few degrees increase in surface temperature include a reduction in sea ice extent, a positive feedback to climate warming due to lowering of surface albedo, and changes to surface runo? that might a?ect the Arctic Ocean's salinity and circulation.

Volume 2 is a companion to Volume 1. It is a comprehensive description of satellite remote sensing applications to all aspects of polar glaciology, including not only ice sheets but also icebergs and interactions between ice sheets and the atmosphere and the ocean. It also includes a chapter on the important new field of satellite synthetic-aperture rader interfermetry. There should be something of interest to most polar researchers and those interested in climate research. As in Volume 1, Volume 2 includes a review of the current state of each discipline, including current questions and issues and related suggestions for research applications of satellite remote sensing. There are many satellite remote sensing texts available, but very few are specifically tailored to, or even contain significant information on the Earth's polar regions. The text is sufficiently comprehensive to summarize fundamental principles of detectors, imaging and geophysical product retrieval, in three dedicated chapters. In effect, the text serves as much as possible as a "one stop shop" for polar remote sensing information. As with Volume 1, the book is extensively referenced, and in an up-to-date fashion. In addition to purely scientific applications, the book also discusses practical and operational issues, such as how polar satellite data can be obtained and how they can be used in expedition planning and logistics.

This book is up to date, covering applications of both "heritage" (multi-decadal) remote sensing time series, and new applications from NASA Earth Observing System and similar sensors launched since the year 2000. It also covers future missions.

Polar Remote Sensing is a two-volume work providing a comprehensive, multidisciplinary discussion of the applications of satellite sensing. Volume 2 focuses on the ice sheets, icebergs, and interactions between ice sheets and the atmosphere and ocean. It contains information about the applications of satellite remote sensing in all relevant polar related disciplines, including glaciology, meteorology, climate and radiation balance and oceanogaraphy. It also provides a brief review of the state-of-the-art of each discipline, including current issues and questions. Various passive and active remote sensor types are discussed, and the book then concentrates on specific geophysical applications. Its interdisciplinary approach means that major advances and publications are highlighted. Polar Remote Sensing: Ice Sheets summarizes fundamental principles of detectors, imaging and geophysical product retrieval includes a chapter on the important new field of satellite synthetic-aperture radar interferometry is a "one stop shop" for polar remote sensing information contains significant new information on the Earth's polar regions describes sophisticated groundbased remote sensing applications with specific reference to their use in polar regions.