Includes bibliographical references (p. 297-303) and index.

Tables -- Acknowledgments -- Foreword -- Introduction -- 1. The blue planet : the world's oceans -- Origin of sea and sky -- The universal sea -- The Iapetus Sea -- The Panthalassa Sea -- The Tethys Sea -- The Atlantic -- 2. Marine exploration : discoveries on the seabed -- Exploring the ocean floor -- Surveying the seabed -- Geologic observations -- Ocean drilling -- Magnetic surveys -- Satellite mapping -- 3. The dynamic seafloor : the oceanic crust -- Lithospheric plates -- Oceanic crust -- The rock cycle -- Ocean basins -- Submarine canyons -- Microplates and terranes -- 4. Ridges and trenches : undersea mountains and chasms -- The midocean ridges -- The heat engine -- Seafloor spreading -- Basaltic magma -- The circum-Pacific belt -- The deep-sea trenches -- Plate subduction -- 5. Submarine volcanoes : eruptions on the ocean floor -- The ring of fire -- The rising magma -- Island arcs -- Guyots and seamounts -- Rift volcanoes -- Hot-spot volcanoes -- Volcanic activity -- 6. Abyssal currents : ocean circulation -- Rivers in the abyss -- El Ni�no -- Abyssal storms -- Tidal currents -- Ocean waves -- Seismic sea waves -- 7. Coastal geology : the active coastline -- Sedimentation -- Storm surges -- Coastal erosion -- Wave impacts -- Coastal subsidence -- Marine transgression -- 8. Sea riches : resources of the ocean -- Law of the sea -- Oil and gas -- Mineral deposits -- Energy from the sea -- Harvesting the sea -- 9. Marine biology : life in the ocean -- Biologic diversity -- Marine species -- Life in the abyss -- Coral reefs -- The vent creatures -- The intertidal zone -- 10. Rare seafloor formations : unusual geology on the seabed -- Mud volcanoes -- Subsea geysers -- Submarine slides -- Sea caves -- Seafloor craters -- Undersea explosions -- Conclusion -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index.

Facts On File's new The Living Earth series is a collection of accessible, lavishly illustrated reference books on geology and Earth science topics designed for high school students, researchers, teachers, and general readers. Jon Erickson, a geologist and accomplished geology and Earth science writer, offers an authoritative yet lively text that is complemented by a wealth of illustrations and photographs that portray the geologic wonders of our planet. Marine Geology: Exploring the New Frontiers of the Ocean is a fascinating examination of the intricate role oceans and water play in the origin and development of the universe. Substantially updated since it was first published nearly a decade ago, this revised edition features information on: coastal geology. the oceanic crust. oceanic currents. resources of the ocean. seabed formations. undersea mountains and chasms. underwater volcanoes. the world's oceans. Marine Geology includes an extensive index, a glossary of terms (many of which have pronunciation guides) to help readers better understand the vocabulary of marine geology, and a bibliography of current sources for further research. The Living Earth series is an indispensable resource for students and general readers who are just beginning their study of the Earth and for more advanced researchers seeking in-depth information.