Table of Contents

Background.- Fundamental Characteristics of the Polar Oceans and Their Sea Ice Cover.- Satellite Remote Sensing Techniques.- Geophysical Parameters and Algorithms for High Latitude Applications.- Variability of Surface Pressure, Winds, and Clouds.- Variability of Surface Temperature and Albedo.- Characteristics and Variability of the Sea Ice Cover.- Polynyas and Other Polar Phenomena.- Variability of Phytoplankton Pigment Concentrations and Primary Productivity.- Decadal Changes, Correlations, and Trends.

About the Author

Josefino C. Comiso is a Senior Research Scientist of the Oceans and Ice Branch Division of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His current research interests include: (a) the detection of climate change from historical data; (b) the role of Odden and polynyas in ocean convection and bottom water formation; (c) air-sea-ice interactions and biological processes in the polar regions; (d) radiative transfer modelling studies and satellite algorithms for sea, ice and snow.