Publication | Open Access
Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences
755
Citations
0
References
2002
Year
Marine GeologyEngineeringOcean PhysicOceanic ScienceMarine Environmental ScienceOceanographic ResearchBiological OceanographyMarine SystemsOceanographyOcean SciencesGeneral OceanographyMaritime ScienceMarine BiologyEarth ScienceOceanic SystemsOcean ResourcesSix‐volume Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences is a new six‑volume set covering over 3,000 pages of condensed ocean science. The author aimed to use the encyclopedia as a resource for a month‑long writing project in general oceanography. The approach involved reading items sequentially while skipping many entries. The encyclopedia is comprehensive, up‑to‑date, well illustrated, and written between textbook and professional review levels, with the marine biology section particularly accessible and highly valuable. Students and instructors are encouraged to obtain the volumes for oceanography study and teaching.
When I mentioned to a colleague that there was a new, six‐volume encyclopedia in ocean sciences that I had agreed to review, all he said was, “That will keep you busy for awhile.” Indeed, reviewing 3000‐plus pages of condensed matter is quite an order. In addition to simply reading one item after another and skipping a lot, I decided to work with the encyclopedia for a month in a writing project involving general oceanography. On the whole, the Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences is comprehensive, up‐to‐date, well illustrated, and well written, and the writing falls somewhere between that of an introductory textbook and a professional review. The marine biology portion, which is large, is particularly accessible. If you are studying oceanography, or teaching it, do gain access to this set of volumes. You will come to treasure it as a great source of information.