Science of Oceanography

About this book

The Oceans cover more than 70 percent of the earth's surface, and, as such should be expected to have an impact on all life on earth. This book was written from this kind of global perspective. It is intended to give students an appreciation for the impacts of the oceans on their day-to-day lives. From the discussion of the early pioneers of oceanography to the examination of the effects of the oceans on global climate change, the book builds upon the natural excitement that most students have for the oceans. The book also illustrates for students ways that science and mathematics can be used to better understand the oceans.

The goal is to transfer the excitement for learning science and mathematics. A 'Glossary of Terms' and several appendices are provided with scientific information that is needed to solve key oceanographic problems. Supplementary materials include PowerPoint presentations of material in all chapters and high-resolution electronic versions of all graphics in the book. The supplementary materials are intended to ease the burden of teaching an introductory oceanography course so that instructors can spend their time on developing effective pedagogues rather than developing instructional materials. The chapters of the book are presented in an order that facilitates student understanding of the major concepts and the linkages between these concepts.

Contents

Introduction & History; The Origin of the Oceans; Plate Tectonics; Submarine Topography; Seawater; Circulation of the Atmosphere; Circulation of the Oceans; Waves & Beaches; Tides; Estuaries; Introduction to Marine Organisms; Environments & Adaptations; Food Webs, Primary Productivity & Ecosystems; Geochemical Cycles; Marine Sediments; The Oceans & Global Climate Change; Glossary of Terms; Index.

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