Preface

The Arctic region is the keystone to understanding the present status of currently ongoing Earth systems and to predicting future images of our planet as viewed from northern high latitudes. The Arctic region, composed of ice-covered Arctic ocean in its center and surrounding fragmentation of the major continents, has been investigated during the last half century through all kinds of scientific studies: bioscience, physical sciences, geoscience, oceanography, and environmental studies, together with the technological domain. This book covers topics on the recent development of all kinds of scientific research in and around the Arctic region, with a view to monitoring the current variations in the extreme environment, affected by remarkable changes in temperature and sea-ice extent, mass loss of ice-sheet and glaciers, and variations in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including human activities. The most exciting initiative in the Arctic region was the International Polar Year (IPY) in 2007–2008, which was held as part of the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (1957–1958). The initiative greatly enhanced the exchange of ideas across nations and scientific disciplines to unveil the status of and changes to planet Earth. This kind of interdisciplinary approach helps us understand and address many challenges such as rapid environmental change and its impact on human society. In this regard, this book partially aims to compile achievements of involved projects by the IPY and post era, especially focusing on surface environmental variations associated with climate change such as global warming.

> **Dr. Masaki Kanao** Associate Professor, National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo, Japan

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**Figure 1.**

**Chapter 1**

Change

*Masaki Kanao*

**1.Introduction**

Introductory Chapter: Arctic

Studies - A Proxy for Climate

The Arctic region is a keystone to understand the present status of the currently ongoing Earth system, such as the climate change, together with to predict future images of our planet as viewed from the northern high latitude. The Arctic region, composed by the ice-covered Arctic Ocean in its center and surrounding fragmentation of major continents, has been rapidly investigated during the last half century

*Surface topography and bathymetry in the Arctic (ETOPO1, [6]) with major geographic location names treated in this review paper. Plate boundaries are after [7]. Red solid circle represents the "Arctic circle" (66.6°N). Abbreviations of representative local names are as follows: SV, Svalbard; MR, Mendeleev Ridge; HB, Hudson Bay; red solid triangles are the permanent stations; KMS, Kamenskoye Station; NAS, Ny-Alesund* 

*Station; ICE-S (south). (Original figure prepared for this InTech Book: Arctic Studies).*
