Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science 9th Edition

Book Preface

This book was written to provide an interesting, clear, current, and reasonably comprehensive overview of the ocean sciences. It was designed for students who are curious about Earth’s largest feature, but who may have little formal background in science. Students bring a natural enthusiasm to their study of this subject, an enthusiasm that will be greatly enhanced by our partnership with the National Geographic Society. Access to more than 125 years of archival resources makes this National Geographic Learning text uniquely appealing. Even the most indifferent reader will perk up when presented with stories of encounters with huge waves, photos of giant squid, tales of exploration under the best and worst of circumstances, evidence that vast chunks of Earth’s surface move slowly, news of Earth’s past battering by asteroids, micrographs of glistening diatoms, and data showing the growing economic importance of seafood and marine materials. If pure spectacle is required to generate an initial interest in the study of science, oceanography wins hands down! In the end, however, it is subtlety that triumphs. Studying the ocean re-instills in us the sense of wonder we all felt as children when we first encountered the natural world. There is much to tell. The story of the ocean is a story of change and chance—its history is written in the rocks, the water, and the genes of the millions of organisms that have evolved here.

The Ninth Edition

Our aim in writing this book was to produce a text that would enhance students’ natural enthusiasm for the ocean. Our students have been involved in this book from the very beginning— indeed, it was their request for a readable, engaging, and thorough text that initiated the project a long time ago. Through the many years we have been writing textbooks, our enthusiasm for oceanic knowledge has increased (if that is possible), forcing our patient reviewers and editors to weed out an excessive number of exclamation points. But enthusiasm does shine through. One student reading the final manuscript of an earlier edition commented, “At last, a textbook that does not read like stereo instructions.” Good!

This new edition builds on its predecessors. National Geographic resources have been instrumental in the book’s focus on the processes of science and exploration. Decades of original art,charts and maps, explorers’ diaries, data compilations, artifact collections, and historic photographs have been winnowed and included when appropriate. The experience has been exhilarating. Indeed, the National Geographic staff in Washington, D.C., has been very patient in tolerating authors whose every other word seemed to be “Wow!”

As before, a great many students have participated alongside professional marine scientists in the writing and reviewing pro-cess. In response to their recommendations, as well as those of instructors who have adopted the book and the many specialists and reviewers who contributed suggestions for strengthening the earlier editions, we have:
• Modified every chapter to reflect current thought and recent research. New discoveries concerning the establishment of Earth’s age, the evolution of its atmosphere, the details of subduction, the sources of ocean water, the maintenance and measurement of salinity, and thermohaline circulation have been incorporated in the text. Recent developments in remote sensing are discussed. Material on the origin, evolution, and extent of life have been updated, as have recent developments in our understanding of oceanic food webs. Recent events are covered: IPCC data on global climate change, the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan, invasive species, coastal development in Dubai, and the ongoing collapse of fisheries.
• Modified the illustration program to incorporate National Geographic Society assets. The maps, charts, paintings, and photographs drawn from more than 125 years of Society archives have greatly enhanced the visual program for increased clarity and accuracy.
• Emphasized the process of science throughout. The first chapter’s discussion of the nature of science has been expanded, and underlying assumptions and limitations are discussed throughout the book. Additional “How Do We Know?” boxes expand on this theme by describing how oceanographers know what they know about the ocean.
• Added “Insights from an Explorer.” These text boxes highlight the experiences of National Geographic Explorers, men and women whose research has been supported by the National Geographic Society. They are among the top scientists in their respective fields, and their discoveries have significantly expanded our understanding of the ocean sciences.
• Added new features to encourage active learning and develop critical thinking skills. Selected figures are accompanied by “Thinking Beyond the Figure.” These queries at the ends of the captions guide the readers to investigations of topics related to what they are learning in the chapter. Global Geo-Watch activities have been added to the end-of-chapter material. Each chapter ends with two sets of review questions. The first, “Thinking Critically,” invites students to recall specific information covered in the chapter; the second, “Thinking Analytically,” challenges students to apply what they have learned to novel situations.
• Added relevant quotes in highlighted windows from sources within each chapter and from famous individuals. The popu-lar “Questions from Students” feature has been retained and expanded—these brief discussions address topics of immediate or controversial interest immediately after a chapter.
• Developed Oceanography MindTap. Mind- Tap is well beyond an eBook, a homework solution or digital supplement, a resource center Web site, a course delivery platform, or a Learning Management System. MindTap is a new personal learning experience that combines all the digital assets—readings, multimedia, activities, and assessments—into a singular learning path to improve student outcomes.