Earth is a watery planet. No less than 70 percent of its surface is covered by vast oceans that contain some of the most bizarre known life-forms. Our planet's marine environment is unique, but only now are we beginning to understand the intriguing forces that make it work.Oceans has been compiled by a team of international scientists and scholars who have written an up-to-the-minute survey of what we know about this most valuable of global resources. The opening section, The World Ocean, explores the origins of these vast expanses of water and explains the mysteries of their waves, tides, and currents. The second section, Life in the Oceans, describes the diversity of oceanic life-forms from majestic whales to minuscule plankton. The final section, Oceans and People, gives an overview of the impact on this environment - from the earliest known voyages to today's sophisticated deep-sea soundings. Read Less