'… a comprehensive overview … the text is well supported by figures (mostly in color) and tables. The references emphasize the recent work, keeping the text up-to-date, but also draw attention to seminal early work that established the basis for many of the areas of science that have become major areas of research activity today … The book is well written and it presents a coherent view of the environments of the Earth's Polar regions, of the ways in which they are changing today' Martin Sharp, Environmental Earth Sciences
Preface; About the authors; Acknowledgments; 1. The setting, history of studies, and the climatic role of the cryosphere; 2. Paleoclimatic history; 3. Observing polar environment; 4. Atmospheric and oceanic circulation and climate; 5. Terrestrial environments and surface types of the polar regions; 6. Ice sheets and shelves; 7. Oceanic environments; 8. The Third Pole; 9. Future polar environments; Appendix: polar institutes; Glossary; Select bibliography; Index.