An Introduction to the World's Oceans

This introductory oceanography text, for students without a background in chemistry, maths, physics, geology or biology, stresses the role of basic scientific principles in the processes that govern the ocean and the earth. A major aim is to stimulate student interest and curiosity by blending contemporary information and research with basic principles to form an integrated introduction to the sciences of the oceans. To this end, many chapters have been rewritten or rearranged, and all have new or updated material. To keep the text as current as possible, the authors have spent much time reading the ever-increasing literature from the analyses of satellite data and the results of large oceanographic programs. From these they have selected material that illustrates new technologies and clarifies the principles of oceanography. More emphasis is placed on the physical and geological aspects of the oceans than on chemical and geochemical properties, since the latter disciplines require more specific background knowledge. An ecological approach as well as descriptive material is used to integrate the biological chapters with other subjects. Practical Consideration sections continue to stress the relationships existing among people, ocean resources and the marine environment. The overall emphasis is on oceanography as a cohesive and united whole rather than a collection of subjects gathered under a marine umbrella. Furthermore, the authors continue to make each chapter stand as independently as possible, so professors may use the text in the chapter order that best suits them. - Major revisions include new material on the origin of the oceans, a new section on gas hydrates, a revised discussion of ocean density structure and new sections on ocean biology, groups of organisms, and environmental zones. - Special Interest boxes provide in-depth discussions of practical applications of different techniques, cutting-edge research projects, and particularly interesting processes and phenomena related to the oceans. - PowerWeb Oceanography is a course-specific website developed with the help of instructors teaching Oceanography to provide instructors and students with curriculum-based materials, updated weekly assessments, informative and timely world news, refereed web links and much more.