This is a comprehensive reference book covering all aspects of ocean science. It is a large‐format (299 mm×232 mm) and attractive work with beautiful photographs and colour diagrams throughout.
Each subsection starts with Key Terms and is cross‐referenced by means of a See Also column at the end. The introduction discusses the lure of the sea and the pioneers of ocean science who answered its call – including of course Captain Cook and Charles Darwin as well as other less well‐known figures – before moving on to look at modern oceanographic research.
Despite being called an encyclopedia this work is not arranged alphabetically. The main part of the book is divided into two main sections: Ocean Systems and Ocean Life. Ocean Systems covers topics such as plates, tides and currents including topical subjects such as tsunami, global warming and renewable marine energy. At the end of this section there are detailed maps of the ocean floor. Ocean Life provides detailed coverage of the wealth of marine life living in the oceans. The final chapter in this section, entitled Fragile Environments, discusses the impact of humans on the oceans including the effects of pollution, habitat destruction and over‐fishing. The conclusion is a timely look at the future and the implications of climate change.
The suggested readership is “anyone interested in the sea and marine life; students of oceanography, geology, ecology, and marine biology”. I would agree that this book has a wide appeal due to its accessible style, broad subject coverage and attractive appearance. It would be ideal for university students or anyone with an interest in ocean sciences, but in my opinion is not specialised enough for an experienced marine scientist. Unfortunately the encyclopedia does not include a bibliography of sources, although there is a limited further reading section including several websites. There is a useful glossary covering seven pages and a detailed index.
The main author, Professor Dorrik Stow, is based in the School of Ocean and Earth Science (SOES) at the Southampton Oceanography Centre (renamed the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton in June 2005). The centre aims to be one of the world's leading oceanographic institutions. Although his webpage on the SOES website (www.soes.soton.ac.uk/) lists only four selected recent publications, according to the book jacket, Stow has published “over 150 papers, numerous books and edited volumes”. The book jacket also lists the 16 contributors from all over the world whose efforts appear in boxes in relevant chapters.
I would recommend this book as an ideal introductory text or reference work for marine science students. Given the reasonable price, this book would also be a perfect gift for anyone with a general interest in the oceans.
