Most environmental studies are based upon data collected at fine spatial scales (plots, sediments, cores, etc.). Furthermore, temporal scales of these studies have been relatively short (days, weeks, months) and few studies have exceeded three years duration (the typical funding cycle). Despite this history, environmental scientists are now being called upon to extrapolate findings from "plot-level" studies to broader spatial scales and from short-term studies to longer temporal scales, up to decades for questions related to long-term processes such as global warming and the rise in sea level. The complex questions being addressed internationally require that scientists take advantage of new technologies including remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and powerful climatic and environmental simulation models. As more environmental scientists begin to work at these broader spatial and temporal scales, and to utilize many of the newer technologies, they are recognising a whole new class of problems.
This book aims to address the most pertinent issues, and includes a comprehensive review of selected topics, case studies, and theoretical discussions, divided into seven sections each preceded by a brief introduction.