This text brings together meteorology and the theory of glacier flow, providing a fundamental understanding of how glaciers respond to climate change. Attention is paid to the microclimate of glaciers and the physical processes regulating the exchange of energy and mass between glacier surface and atmosphere. Simple analytical and numerical models are used to:

· investigate glaciers sensitivity to climate change
· estimate response times
· make an interpretation of historical glacier records
· assess the contribution of glacier melt to sea-level rise

Modern developments in glacier research, including satellite measurements are discussed in detail, making this a valuable reference source.