The International Symposium on Arctic Glaciology was held in Geilo, Norway from Sunday 22 August, to Friday 27 August 2004. The symposium was initiated and co-sponsored by the International Arctic Science Committee, Working Group on Arctic Glaciology. The symposium was organized by the International Glaciological Society.

The main aim of the symposium was to focus on the consequences from the predicted enhanced climate warming in the Arctic on the mass-balance and dynamics of Arctic ice masses. The understanding of the past, present and likely future responses of Arctic ice masses to climate change was the key focus. Approaches using and integrating field observations, remote sensing and modelling were presented.

There were about 130 participants. We had in all 115 presentations, 70 as oral presentations, in addition to a poster session with 45 presentations. The editorial board was headed by Julian Dowdeswell and Ian Willis and the associate editors were Dorthe Dahl Jensen, Andrey Glazovskiy, Will Harrison, Elisabeth Isaksson, Jacek Jania, Tavi Murray, Hans Oerlemans and Niels Reeh.

The local organizing committee consisted of Jon Ove Hagen (chair), Elisabeth Isaksson, Jack Kohler, Kjetil Melvold, Rune Engeset and Thomas Vikhamar Schuler.

We are grateful for financial support received from the International Arctic Science Committee and from the Norwegian Research Council. Their invaluable supports made it possible to print this volume of the Annals, to sponsor twelve young scientists to attend the symposium and to arrange a midweek excursion to the ice cap Hardangerjökulen.

Many thanks go to the International Glaciological Society and its Secretary General, Magnús Már Magnússon, and his Cambridge staff; to the local organizing committee; to all people that helped during the symposium and during the mid-week excursion and finally to all participants and reviewers.