Introduction to Oceanography (GEOL 1113): Books

David L. Mearns has discovered some of the world's most fascinating and elusive shipwrecks. From the mighty battleship HMS Hood (sunk in a pyrrhic duel with the Bismarck) to solving the mystery of HMAS Sydney, to the crumbling wooden skeletons of Vasco da Gama's sixteenth century fleet, Mearns has searched for and found dozens of sunken vessels in every ocean of the world.The Shipwreck Hunter chronicles his most intriguing finds. It describes the extraordinary techniques used, the detailed research and mid-ocean stamina (and courage) required to find a wreck thousands of feet beneath the sea, as well as the moving human stories that lie behind each of these oceanic tragedies. Combining the adventuring derringdo of Indiana Jones with the precision of a scientist, The Shipwreck Hunter opens an illuminating porthole into the shadowy depths of the ocean.

Beneath the waters of Abukir Bay, at the edge of the Nile Delta, lie the submerged remains of ancient Egyptian cities that sank over 1,000 years ago only to be rediscovered in the late twentieth century. Pioneering underwater excavations have yielded a wealth of ancient buildings and artifacts, including temples, harbor installations, and no fewer than sixty-nine shipwrecks. Some of the greatest of these treasures will be exhibited in London for the first time in 2016. Through these spectacular finds, this book explains how two monumental ancient civilizations, Egypt and Greece, interacted in the late first millennium bc, from the founding of Thonis-Heracleion, Naukratis, and Canopus as trading and religious centers to the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great; the ensuing centuries of Ptolemaic (Hellenistic) rule; the suicide of Cleopatra, the last active pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt; and the ultimate dominance of the Roman Empire. Throughout, Greeks and Egyptians lived alongside one another in these lively cities, sharing their politics, religious beliefs, languages, and customs. Sunken Cities showcases a spectacular collection of artifacts, coupled with an insightful presentation of the history by world-renowned experts in the subject.

Coral reefs represent the most spectacular and diverse marine ecosystem on the planet as well as a critical source of income for millions of people. However, the combined effects of human activity have led to a rapid decline in the health of reefs worldwide, with many now facing completedestruction. This timely book provides an integrated overview of the function, physiology, ecology, and behaviour of coral reef organisms. Each chapter is enriched with a selection of 'boxes' on specific aspects written by internationally recognised experts. As with other books in the Biology of HabitatsSeries, the emphasis in this book is on the organisms that dominate this marine environment although pollution, conservation, climate change, and experimental aspects are also included. Indeed, particular emphasis is placed on conservation and management due to the habitat's critically endangeredstatus. A global range of examples is employed which gives the book international relevance.This accessible text is intended for students, naturalists and professionals and assumes no previous knowledge of coral reef biology. It is particularly suitable for both senior undergraduate and graduate students (in departments of biology, geography, and environmental science) taking courses incoral reef ecology, marine biology, oceanography and conservation biology, as well as the many professional ecologists and conservation biologists requiring a concise overview of the topic. It will also be of relevance and use to reef managers, recreational divers, and amateur naturalists.

"Approaching this vast and multifaceted subject with profound passion and a refreshing approach, ocean scientist and diver Ellen Prager, along with internationally renowned underwater explorer Sylvia Earle, crafts a comprehensive and understandable survey of the ocean's past, present, and future. Leading readers on a fantastic undersea voyage spanning 4.5 billion years of natural history - from the Precambrian through the present - The Oceans reveals the nature and science of everything from waves, tides and sea level change, to hurricanes, El Nino, and global warming, along with marine sediments, plate tectonics, and the astonishing myriad of life that populates the ocean. In a discussion of the very latest discoveries in marine science - a field that combines oceanography, biology, geology, chemistry, physics, meteorology, and trailblazing underwater exploration - we are led into the interworkings of the sea and the increasingly complex relationship between humans and the ocean."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved