Investigating Earth S Oceans

Contained in the immensity and depths of the Earth’s oceans, many of the planet’s species and resources thrive far away from the reaches of human civilization. With expanses that have yet to be discovered and enormous reservoirs of untapped potential, oceans provide fodder for all manners of research. This informative volume describes the features and properties of the bodies of water that make up 70 percent of the world’s surface as well as the various branches of oceanography dedicated to studying all aspects of the ocean and its life forms.

"Discusses what oceans are, their importance to humans and to the ecosystem, how humans are harming them, and what can be done to protect them"--

Inside the epic quest to find life on the water-rich moons at the outer reaches of the solar system Where is the best place to find life beyond Earth? We often look to Mars as the most promising site in our solar system, but recent scientific missions have revealed that some of the most habitable real estate may actually lie farther away. Beneath the frozen crusts of several of the small, ice-covered moons of Jupiter and Saturn lurk vast oceans that may have existed for as long as Earth, and together may contain more than fifty times its total volume of liquid water. Could there be organisms living in their depths? Alien Oceans reveals the science behind the thrilling quest to find out. Kevin Peter Hand is one of today's leading NASA scientists, and his pioneering research has taken him on expeditions around the world. In this captivating account of scientific discovery, he brings together insights from planetary science, biology, and the adventures of scientists like himself to explain how we know that oceans exist within moons of the outer solar system, like Europa, Titan, and Enceladus. He shows how the exploration of Earth's oceans is informing our understanding of the potential habitability of these icy moons, and draws lessons from what we have learned about the origins of life on our own planet to consider how life could arise on these distant worlds. Alien Oceans describes what lies ahead in our search for life in our solar system and beyond, setting the stage for the transformative discoveries that may await us.

Oceans make up most of the surface of our blue planet. They may form just a sliver on the outside of the Earth, but they are very important, not only in hosting life, including the fish and other animals on which many humans depend, but in terms of their role in the Earth system, in regulating climate, and cycling nutrients. As climate change, pollution, and over-exploitation by humans puts this precious resource at risk, it is more important than ever that we understand and appreciate the nature and history of oceans. There is much we still do not know about the story of the Earth's oceans, and we are only just beginning to find indications of oceans on other planets. In this book, geologists Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Williams consider the deep history of oceans, how and when they may have formed on the young Earth — topics of intense current research — how they became salty, and how they evolved through Earth history. We learn how oceans have formed and disappeared over millions of years, how the sea nurtured life, and what may become of our oceans in the future. We encounter some of the scientists and adventurers whose efforts led to our present understanding of oceans. And we look at clues to possible seas that may once have covered parts of Mars and Venus, that may still exist, below the surface, on moons such as Europa and Callisto, and the possibility of watery planets in other star systems.

This book is a resource manual and guide that will help students learn about the oceans, explore some of the major phenomena that occur on our planet, and appreciate the way that scientific investigation of the Earth proceeds. The book is divided into two parts. The first part contains a series of short investigations that are designed to help students learn about a particular topic. Thirty-seven short exercises deal with the many aspects of oceanography and have been put into a laboratory format and can easily be torn out and handed in for homework. The second part of the text provides a concise overview of major concepts of oceanography, which can serve as an additional resource to help students interpret the workings of the oceanic system.

Be ahead of your peers by studying curriculum-based lessons even before they are discussed in school. Study the Earth’s oceans through this interactive science book. Learn of their composition and underwater features. Also study the differences and similarities of the two types of ocean currents: the surface and the deep ocean. Start reading today.

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting for an engaging read aloud experience! Water is essential to life on our planet. Water is constantly moving between Earth's surface, the air, and the ground. But did you know that water cannot be created or destroyed? Or that water is not only a liquid but also a solid and a gas? See the water cycle in action in this fascinating book.

The 4.4-billion-year history of the oceans and their role in Earth's climate system It has often been said that we know more about the moon than we do about our own oceans. In fact, we know a great deal more about the oceans than many people realize. Scientists know that our actions today are shaping the oceans and climate of tomorrow—and that if we continue to act recklessly, the consequences will be dire. Eelco Rohling traces the 4.4-billion-year history of Earth's oceans while also shedding light on the critical role they play in our planet's climate system. This timely and accessible book explores the close interrelationships of the oceans, climate, solid Earth processes, and life, using the context of Earth and ocean history to provide perspective on humankind's impacts on the health and habitability of our planet.