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Global Change is increasingly considered a critical topic in environmental research. Remote sensing methods provide a useful tool to monitor global variables, since they provide a systematic coverage of the Earth's surface, at different spatial, spectral and temporal resolutions. The data provided by Earth Observation Satellites are being operationally used for monitoring atmospheric conditions, ice sheets and glaciar movements, vegetation dynamism and land use changes, deforestation and desertification processes, as well as water conditions. This book covers an analysis of the leading missions in global Earth observation, and then reviews the main fields in which remote sensing methods are providing vital data for global change studies.
Preface. Contributors.- 1. International efforts on global change research; B. Alonso, F. Valladares.- 2. NASA earth observation satellite missions for global change research; E. Chuvieco, C. Justice.- 3. The role of the European Space Agency in global change observations; O. Arino.- 4. Ozone in the atmosphere; A. Calles, J.L. Casanova. - 5. Remote sensing of land-cover and land-use dynamics; P. Mayaux et al.- 6. Satellite observation of biomass burning; E. Chuvieco. - 7. Satellites oceans observation in relation to global change; M. Canton-Garbin.- 8. Observing surface waters for global change applications; R.G. Lawford.- 9. Remote sensing of terrestrial snow and ice for global change studies; R. Kelly, D.K. Hall. Index. CD-ROM included inside back cover.
Overall the book succeeds as an informatiove handbook on major topics and key variables involving current satellite observations of global change. The topical areas covered and the technical scope are suitable for an interdisciplinary audience of environmental scientists, though I recommend this book to anyone interested in global change from a regional or ecosystem perspective. John S. Kimball, EOS, Vol. 89, No. 35, 2008
