Exploring the Ocean

Full of fascinating facts and real-life examples, Exploring the Ocean is an engaging, comprehensive investigation into those vast bodies of water that dominate two-thirds of our earth. Divided into four books -- The Physical Ocean, Life in the Ocean, Uses of the Ocean, and an accompanying index volume -- this extraordinary reference is a thorough, easy-to-understand study of oceanography, from underwater geography and topography to the vast variety of ocean life to human exploration and exploitation.
Each topic features:
* A spread devoted to concepts and understanding
* Sidebars on specifics such as important oceanographers or rules for *oral reef divers
* Easy-to-read diagrams and maps
* Stunning color photographs from all over the world
Exploring the Ocean also includes useful volume and set indexes, appendices of basic ocean facts, websites, and further reading suggestions. Perfect for a casual dip or complete immersion, Exploring the Ocean encourages the marine biologist in all of us to delve into the depths of this intriguing world. Volume 1
With examples such as the Tethys Ocean and the Great Barrier Reef, Volume 1: The Physical Ocean brings the remarkable enormity of the oceans to life by examining the composition of the water itself, ocean currents, waves, tides and climactic influences. The Physical Ocean provides a comprehensive understanding of why, how, and where the oceans exist, and how they have changed from their origins to the present day. You learn the answers to questions such as:
* Why is does the earth appear blue?
* How do oceans clean the air?
* How can we keep our oceans healthy? Volume 2
Volume 2: Life in the Ocean examines life within the water, from the earliest life-forms discovered in fossils to the vast range of species swimming the seas today. Marine plants and seabirds, mammals, reptiles, fish, and even the tiniest phytoplankton are examined in depth with vivid images and fascinating facts. Throughout Life in the Ocean, threats to marine life are highlighted, including pollution, overfishing, and littering, with an eye to future conservation and protection of our oceans. Life in the Ocean answers questions such as:
* What kind of marine fossils were found in the Grand Canyon?
* What is a trilobite?
* Do whales sing? Volume 3:
Volume 3: Uses of the Ocean traces humankind's dependence on oceans through the ages, looking back to the earliest explorers and examining the surprising ways we use the sea in everyday life. Humans have harnessed the power of the sea for transportation, fishing, mining, and tidal power and seen fantastic developments -- as well as tragic disasters. This volume investigates myths about the ocean, our desire to explore and improve, and asks what damage human exploration is having on the oceans. Uses of the Ocean has answers to questions such as:
* Who were Jason and the Argonauts?
* What ocean did Vasco Da Gama explore?
* What happens when an oil tanker spills into the ocean? Volume 4: Index