Palaeohydrological research is a comparatively recent development. However, research undertaken has already demonstrated a significant multidisciplinary impact and shown how palaeohydrology can provide an important contribution to the study of global change. Although a considerable amount of exciting palaeohydrological research has been applied to particular areas, there has not previously been a systematic approach to research into the palaeohydrology of the Earths surface. It was for this reason that a Commission was established by INQUA in 1991 on Global Continental Palaeohydrology. This volume provides the background to that exciting international research project and has been written to provide a basis for understanding the current state of