Images of the earth"s surface have been around for years, but it is only recently that scientists have begun to take advantage of new data generated by the explosion of remote sensing equipment to address a variety of technical questions in many different fields. This" Atlas" presents breathtaking full-color images of the region to reveal and interpret environmental patterns and problems. The illustrations are interwoven with commentary on the area"s ecology, geology, and oceanography, giving readers an understanding of the link between their own backyard and the interdependent set of systems that make up one of the most distinctive regions on earth.