TY - BOOK AU - Stow,D.A.V. TI - Encyclopedia of the oceans SN - 0198606877 AV - GC9 .S76 2004 U1 - 551.46 22 PY - 2004///] CY - Oxford, New York PB - Oxford University Press KW - Ocean KW - Encyclopedias KW - Oceanography N1 - "An Andromeda book"--T.p. verso; A reference work that embraces the major fields of oceanographic research: the physical nature of the oceans and the evolution and distribution of marine life. This book offers information on a wide range of topics, from the formation of oceanic ridges to the astonishing diversity and complex interactions of marine communities; Includes bibliographical references (p. 249) and index; ntroduction. The ocean frontier ; The lure of the sea ; Great voyages of discovery ; Pioneers of ocean science ; Modern oceanographic research -- Ocean systems -- Plates on the move. The ocean planet ; Plate tectonics and time ; Backbone of the oceans ; Collision and slippage ; Oceans of the past -- Patterns & cycles. From peak to trough ; Where land meets sea ; Patterns on the seafloor ; Canyons, slopes, and fans ; Islands in time -- Salt, sun, & sea level. Why the sea is salt ; Heat, light, and sound ; Ocean layers ; Sea level rise and fall -- Silent, swift, & strong. Riding the waves ; Rhythm of the tides ; Great surface currents ; Silent cycles of the deep ; Oceans and climate -- Hidden riches of the ocean. Oil and gas ; Renewable marine energy ; Minerals from the sea -- Ocean maps. The ocean floor ; The Atlantic Ocean ; The Indian Ocean ; The Pacific Ocean ; The Polar Oceans -- Ocean life -- Evolution & extinction. Life unfolds ; March through time ; Mass extinction -- The web of life. The diversity of life ; Cycles, webs, and flows ; The world of phytoplankton ; The zooplankton ; Algal forests -- Marine lifestyles. The marine environment ; Movement underwater ; Heightened senses ; Making a living ; Sexual encounters -- Complex communities. Marine habitats ; Shoreline communities ; Wetlands ; Coral reefs ; The open ocean ; The deep-sea floor -- Fragile environments. The living resource ; Marine pollution ; Habitat destruction -- Conclusion. Future challenge ; Climate change ; A new global awareness ; Our common heritage ER -