Publisher's Synopsis
With oceans covering neatly seventy-one percent of the Earth's surface, planet Earth would be better called planet Ocean. In terms of volume, the oceans make up about ninety-eight percent of the biosphere, yet our knowledge of this gigantic realm is limited. The ocean world is so vast, its waters so deep, and its investigation so difficult, that oceanography as a true science is little more than 100 years old. This visual resource reflects the international and multidisciplinary nature of marine science and its importance to our understanding of global processes. Truly Interdisciplinary in Coverage Marine Science On File incorporates the physical, chemical, and biological sciences, as well as Earth science, management sciences, and economics. It is suitable for a wide audience, from high school students and undergraduates to science and technical writers and general readers interested in this changing and sometimes controversial field. Among its many features are: * The latest research findings and the most recent information available on ocean management and international legislation, including such issues as the greenhouse effect, global warming, fisheries management, overfishing, overhunting, oil pollution, and marine protected areas (MPAs) * The ocean-atmosphere system, including El Nino, tornadoes and waterspouts, and chaos theory and weather forecasting * Maps, flow diagrams, charts, and summary tables from academic sources and international agencies presented in one accessible volume.
