Oceans: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.76 (857 Votes) |
| Asin | : | B071G3HLT3 |
| Format Type | : | |
| Number of Pages | : | 153 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-06-23 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
This slim volume with its elegant prose is a must read for anyone who wishes to understand why oceans are central to the flourishing of humans as well as the planet itself." - Professor Paul Pinet, Colgate University . "Dorrik Stow's book is a keenly observed narrative about the beauty and complexity of Earth's oceans
Liquid water covers more than 70% of our planet's surface and, in past geological time, has spread over 85%. As polar ice melts and sea-levels rise, countless millions who have made their homes on low-lying lands close to the sea are threatened.As scientific exploration of the seas gathers pace, the new knowledge gained of the ocean-Earth systems and their interaction with the human environment is vital to our understanding of how we can preserve these ultimately fragile environments.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. Oceans also form a key part of the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, andother elements critical to life. The importance of the oceans to life on Earth cannot be overstated. Stow also explores what we know of how oceans originate, and evolve and change; the shapeof the seafloor and nature of its cover; the physical processes that stir the waters and mix such a rich chemical broth; and the inseparable link between oceans and climate. Life on Earth began in the oceans over 3.5 billion years ago and remained there for the great majority of that time. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. He shows how the oceans are an essential resource to our overpopulated world, and discusses why exploration and greater s
Professor Dorrik Stow, of Heriot-Watt University, is a sedimentologist and oceanographer. As well as publishing over 200 research papers, he has been active in science outreach, lecturing widely. His most recent books include Encyclopedia of the Oceans (OUP, 2004), Sedimentary Rocks in the Field: AColour Guide (Manson Publishing, 2005), and Vanished Ocean (OUP, 2012).