Oceans cover over 70% of the planet's surface and are essential to life on earth, yet their deepest mysteries remained unexplored until very recently when 20th century technological advances allowed the vast expansion of our frontiers of knowledge, and worldwide interest in oceanography grew rapidly.
Combining the skills of 40 contributors from world-renowned teaching and research establishments, this richly illustrated introduction to oceanography is suitable for coursework and appeals to a wide readership without compromising standards of scientific rigour.
With coverage ranging from history and instrumentation to the physical geography, meteorology, biology and chemistry of the sea and its ecosystems, Oceanography provides the reader with an authoritative, comprehensive guide while promoting awareness of current ecological concerns governing man's relationship with the oceans.
Foreword
Prologue
Preface
The Global Oceans
The Geological Time Scale
Standard International (SI) Units
Commonly Uses SI Units
How the Science of Oceanography Developed
The Atmosphere and the Ocean
The Role of Ocean Circulation in the Changing Climate
Ocean Weather - Eddies in the Sea
Observing Oceans from Space
Marine Phytoplankton Blooms
Snow Falls in the Open Ocean
The Evolution and Structure of Ocean Basins
Slides, Debris Flows, and Turbidity Currents
Mid-Ocean Ridges and Hydrothermal Activity
The Ocean: A Global Chemical System
The Marine Carbonate System
A Walk on the Deep Side: Animals in the Deep Sea
Light, Colour and Vision in the Ocean
Ocean Diversity
Life in Estuaries, Salt Marshes, Lagoons, and Coastal Waters
Artificial Reefs
Scientific Diving
Marine Instrumentation
The Sea Floor - Exploring a Hidden World
Ocean Resources
Waste Disposal in the Deep Ocean
Some Commonly Used Words and Terms
Acronyms
Index
Biography
A. Thorpe, S.
...coverage, presentation and price ensure this book a place on every serious student's shelf...once begun, it's hard to put down.
—New Scientist