**Preface to "Remote Sensing of the Aquatic Environments"**

The observation of the aquatic environments represented by inland surface water, seas and oceans has been traditionally linked to the need for safe navigation and fishing locations. More recently, there has been a growing demand on monitoring capability due to increasing concerns about the contaminants produced by anthropogenic activities on the quality of inland and coastal waters.

Remote observations allow us to gather plenty of information about surface temperature, winds, currents, ocean color, coral reefs, sea and lake ice, suspended solid concentrations, algal blooms, and other bio-geophysical parameters related to the aquatic environment.

In this context, active and passive remote sensors offer suitable solutions for the synoptic monitoring of the water surface along with all the properties directly involved. Our aim is to develop methods and applications to extract detailed environmental information from multisensor observations.

This book—*Remote Sensing of the Aquatic Environments*—is focused on the relevant aspects related to the remote measurement of the bio-geophysical properties of bodies of water and the methodologies aimed at studying the relevant processes. It includes a collection of research efforts aimed at improving our capability to monitor inland waters such as lakes and lagoons, water reservoirs, and coastal areas including estuarine and river delta regions. These water districts represent the most sensitive regions of our planet where the delicate balance among all the ecological systems should be preserved.The book is aimed at a wide audience, ranging from graduate students, university faculty members and scientists to policy makers and managers.

> **Giacomo De Carolis, Francesca De Santi** *Editors*
