Inverse Modeling of the Ocean and Atmosphere is a graduate-level book for students of oceanography and meteorology, and anyone interested in combining computer models and observations of the hydrosphere or solid earth. A step-by-step development of maximally efficient inversion algorithms, using ideal models, is complemented by computer codes and comprehensive details for realistic models. Variational tools and statistical concepts are concisely introduced, and applications to contemporary research models, together with elaborate observing systems, are examined in detail. The book offers a review of the various alternative approaches, and further advanced research topics are discussed. Derived from the author's lecture notes, this book constitutes an ideal course companion for graduate students, as well as being a valuable reference source for researchers and managers in theoretical earth science, civil engineering and applied mathematics.

"...introduces the reader to the representer method and to its geometrical and statistical interpretations. The book provides in-depth discussion of practical issues, especially concerning extensions of the representer method to large and to non-linear problems, and concerning the computation of error statistics. One of the most compelling sections of the book is the one that presents case studie dealing with the estimation of ocean tide, the prediction of tropical-cyclone tracks and intensitites, and the testing of an intermediate coupled model. This book also includes an excellent discussion of ill-posed forecasting problems and a brief review of various alternative approaches; for example, the adjoint method, the Kalman filter, and Monte Carlo approaches...the definitive reference on the application of representer methods to oceanographic and meteorological problems. The insightful and original treatment of this intricate subject ensures that inverse theory remains...

"...as vibrant and fresh today as when it was first introduced by Gauss 200 years ago." EOS

"This book is well written and is suitable for a course for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, as well as a reference source for researchers." Mathematical Reviews