Investigating Seafloors and Oceans: From Mud Volcanoes to Giant Squid offers a bottom-to-top tour of the world's oceans, exposing the secrets hidden therein from a variety of scientific perspectives. Opening with a discussion of the earth's formation, hot spots, ridges, plate tectonics, submarine trenches, and cold seeps, the text goes on to address such topics as the role of oceans in the origin of life, tidal bore, thermal effects, ecosystem services, marine creatures, and nutraceutical and pharmaceutical resources.
This unique reference provides insight into a wide array of questions that researchers continue to ask about the vast study of oceans and the seafloor. It is a one-of-a-kind examination of oceans that offers important perspectives for researchers, practitioners, and academics in all marine-related fields.
Chapter 1: The Chaotic and Vibrant Seafloor
Chapter 2: Secrets of Bermuda Triangle and Formation of Polymetallic Nodules
Chapter 3: Complex Wave Motions and Thermal Structure of the Oceans
Chapter 4: The Role of Oceans in the Origin of Life and in Biological Evolution
Chapter 5: Astronomical and Biological Organizational Relationships
Chapter 6: Seafloor Hot Chimneys and Cold Seeps: Mysterious Life Around Them
Chapter 7: Citadel-Building: Tiny Creatures in the Oceans-Corals
Chapter 8: Marine Creatures With a Difference
Chapter 9: Oceans: Abode of Nutraceuticals, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotoxins
Chapter 10: Magic With Colors-Sea Surface Changes
Antony Joseph has an oceanographic career of about 36 years. He has worked at POL (UK), where part of his Ph.D work was carried out. He lead the establishment of a sea-level station at the central east Atlantic coast, the data from which, in the absence of other data from this region, became highly valuable in understanding the global extent of the December 2004 global tsunami. His contribution enables real-time Internet viewing of data in graphical format. He authored two Elsevier books: (1) Tsunamis, (2) Measuring Ocean Currents; published chapters in books, articles in Encyclopedias, research papers in journals; and interacted with the public through print and audiovisual communication media.