<p><i>"[An] absorbing survey of oceanography . . . [this] elegant study is an excellent resource."­­Publishers Weekly</i></p><p><b>A fascinating examination of the earth's oceans</b></p><p>This exhaustive overview of oceanography captures the excitement of discovery in the making. <i>The Oceans</i> opens up the world of ocean science to the general reader and raises significant questions about the future of the ancient, nurturing ocean itself.</p><p>The oceans cover more than 70 percent of the globe, yet less than 5 percent of that expanse has been explored. But, as Drs. Prager and Earle show in this vivid survey of ocean research, our knowledge is suddenly accelerating: various dives, soundings, computer analyses, and other probes are uncovering amazing facts about the 142 million square miles beneath the seas.</p>