Oceans

About this book

Although they cover most of the surface of the planet, the oceans are still largely unexplored. Yet they provide some of the only detailed records of conditions on the earth back into the deep past and are arguably going to play a fundamental role in the future.

This volume describes what is known about the Earth's oceans, from the internal structure of the plates which make up their floors to their role in climate control. It examines their potential for providing living and non-living resources and the threats posed to them by mankind's activities.

Contents

Opening of Ocean Basins.- Spreading Axis Processes.- Subduction Processes.- Sediments.- Past Climate Reconstruction.- Deep Biosphere.- Resources and Fluids Oil and Gas.- Polymetallic Sulphides Passive Fluid Flow.- Hazards: Tsunami. Algal. Blooms. Hurricanes.- Data Assimilation.- Ocean Observation Systems.- GIS Satellite Altimetry.- Ocean Science Databases (PetDB, Advances in Technology Neptune/Hermes).- Japanese Cabled obs IODP Exploration Technology (AUV, ROV, Crawler, Submersible).- Seawater. Geotraces. Ocean Circulation: Present and Past.- Valuing the Oceans: Trade and Services.- Biogeochemistry. Chemical Oceanography.- Coasts: Coastal Protection. Pollution in Coastal Regions.

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