Geosystems is written, organized, and illustrated to give introductory students an accessible, systematic, and visually appealing start in the study of physical geography. It is fully supported by superior cartography, illustrations, photographs, and remarkable remote-sensing imagery. This first Canadian edition has been carefully crafted to enhance appeal to Canadian students. A considerable amount of new Canadian material has been added while the best of the US and international examples have been retained.
Earth's Arctic and Antarctic regions are linked to all planetary systems and play an important role in the global climate system. In recent decades, these high latitudes have undergone significant climatic changes. For example, Alaska, Siberia, and portions of the Antarctic Peninsula are experiencing warming at unprecedented rates, and worldwide glacial ice is receding. The Arctic Council completed the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), documenting these changes; Canadian scientists participated in this study. To better understand the Polar Regions and the human dimension of these dynamic changes, the International Council for Science designated March 2007 to March 2009 as the International Polar Year (the official IPY covers the two-year span for full coverage of polar summer and polar winters at each pole). Using an interdisciplinary approach and with international participation, the IPY will promote a wide range of scientific research and public outreach. In honour of the ACIA and IPY, this first Canadian edition of Geosystems features a high-latitude theme. To promote a greater understanding of the Polar Regions, Geosystems offers "High Latitude Connection" features and a thorough treatment of the physical geography of the high latitudes. Our cover highlights this theme by featuring a dramatic melting iceberg near the Yalour Islands (65° S) along the Antarctic Peninsula in the late Antarctic summer of February 2004.