Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science

by Tom S. Garrison

The ocean affects all aspects of our lives--Tom Garrison will show you how in this new edition of OCEANOGRAPHY: AN INVITATION TO MARINE SCIENCE. Garrison takes you on a vivid exploration of the ocean--from submarine canyons to zooplankton, global warming, the growing plastics problem, and our changing coastlines--and explains oceanography's most important concepts. Garrison's friendly approach helps you understand the complexities involved in how we study and use the ocean. You'll explore topics like Hurricane Katrina; the devastating December 2004 earthquake in the Indian Ocean and the resulting tsunami; the Moon and its connection to the ocean; the power of the ocean to influence weather; and uses and abuses of the ocean. Gain an understanding of the wonders of the sea and the scientific questions that surround it with this fascinating text!

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Science Nature, Reference, Ecology, Read For School

592 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 1996

Reviews

[Tristan]

I ate it (2 days speedrun for exam)

[Wawa Hals]

The first book I ever read when I studied oceanography n marine while doing my degree!

[Denise Muñoz]

Garrison strips away the superficial blue surface of the globe to expose the staggeringly complex physical and biological machines operating beneath. He reconstructs thermohaline circulation, tectonic abyss geometry, and marine ecosystem dynamics, treating ocean currents not as mere water, but as the literal circulatory system of our living planet.

Why It Matters
It transforms how you look at the planet by proving that the continents are just islands governed by a massive global aquatic engine. Garrison shows that if you do not understand the chemical and physical equilibrium of the oceans, you miss how our climate and atmosphere are kept alive.

So Why Read It
A breathtaking masterclass in planetary scale systems that teaches you to view Earth as a singular, fluid organism. Essential for building a deep, holistic curiosity about the unexplored frontiers covering most of our world.

[Lara]

This text is a great general overview of oceanography--clear descriptions and diagrams, and I really liked the way Garrison connects the study of oceanography with astronomy, geology, history, physics, biology, etc. I'm definitely interested enough to research many topics covered here in more depth.

[Bella]

I had to read this for my Oceanography class, and it was not all that bad. This is not something that I would really recommend to anyone, but if you like learning about the ocean then go right on ahead.

[Sparrow]

Could've been worse, as textbooks go. I think Garrison gets a little carried away with numbers and figures, which constitute the more boring parts of the book. His lectures are NOTHING like his writing. It was very interesting being audience to his lecture on plankton.

[Amazon Customer]

I had this book for two separate Intro-level oceanography classes. It's a great book and explains things well, good summaries too. It covers a lot of topics (oceanography, geology, marine biology) so it's not super detailed on the geology and marine biology parts, but it's a good introduction book.

[Cindy]

I have the 3rd edition of this text from 1998. I took the course with Dr. Garrison as the instructor. Solid intro to oceanography reference book.

[Priantomo]

an entertaining book to study the ocean based on science..

[Meave]

Very clear explanations, and easy to follow. Made a very complicated subject (wave theory and dynamics) understandable to this Women's Studies major.

[Teri Temme]

Excellent text - very informative and an easy read.

[Robyn Mayer]

This was a well-designed textbook. I rented it but wanted to keep it for reference when I was done. I will wait till the next edition comes out and buy this edition.