Essentials of Oceanography, CourseSmart eTextbook, 8th Edition

For introductory courses in oceanography.

This introductory text answers the question, "How do the oceans work?" It uses a systems approach to highlight the interdisciplinary relationship between oceanographic phenomena and how those phenomena affect other Earth systems. The authors incorporate scientific information from geology, chemistry, physics, and biology to illustrate how each of these disciplines relates to the ocean. Designed for introductory college-level oceanography courses where students have no formal background in science or mathematics.

Note: All chapters end with Chapter in Review, Key Terms, Questions and Exercises, Further Readings and Oceanography on the Web.

 Preface


 Introduction


 1 Introduction to Planet "Earth"


 2 Plate Tectonics and the Ocean Floor


 3 Marine Provinces


 4 Marine Sediments


 5 Water and Seawater


 6 AirðSea Interaction


 7 Ocean Circulation


 8 Waves and Water Dynamics


 9 Tides


10 The Coast: Beaches and Shoreline Processes


11 The Coastal Ocean


12 Marine Life and the Marine Environment


13 Biological Productivity and Energy Transfer


14 Animals of the Pelagic Environment


15 Animals of the Benthic Environment


Afterword


Appendixes


I. Metric and English Units Compared


II. Geographic Locations


III. Latitude and Longitude on Earth


IV. A Chemical Background: Why Water Has 2 Hõs and 1 O


V. Careers in Oceanography


Glossary


Credits and Acknowledgements


Index