Material Detail

This textbook outlines the major processes and features of the world's oceans. Content starts with a review of important fundamentals of the natural and physical science related to oceanography. Following chapters focus on Earth history and evolution of life through time.Concepts related to geology and structure of the solid Earth are presented in chapters on plate tectonics, and physiography of the ocean basins, including information about earthquakes, volcanoes, and sediments deposited in ocean basin.

A chapter on the physics and chemistry seawater sets the stage for chapters on atmospheric circulation (including weather and climate), the global ocean circulation system, and the dynamics of waves, tides, and coastlines.The final section reviews marine life from the base to the top of the "food chain." Chapters focus on the characteristics of primary food production in the marine environment and how the physical and chemical characteristics of ocean environment impact sea life. Final chapters review dominant and important life forms in the ocean, including invertebrates that dominate the sea floor (benthic environments), and vertebrates (including fish, reptiles, and marine mammals) that dominate open ocean environments.Throughout the chapters are discussion that explore the oceans as a resource for people, and considers human impacts on marine environments.

The content is all "open source" material - derived or modified from available on federal, state, and local government websites and publications. Much of content (text, graphics, and photographs) are donated from gotbooks.miracosta.edu, a website dedicated to supporting public earth science education.

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