Joan Brown – författare

This is the last volume in the six-volume Open University set. Each volume is required by students as a relevant part of the Open University course but designed so that it can equally be used as an individual textbook. This volume differs from the others in the series in that it does not draw specifically upon traditional scientific disciplines. The first part of the book provides an historical review of the Law of the Sea culminating in the present day situation. The second part is devoted to two case studies, covering not only the scientific aspects of a particular oceanographic environment, but also the social, political and legal consequences and implications of human interactions with that environment. Each volume in this set is well laid out and copiously illustrated with full colour photographs. Questions to help develop arguments can be found in the text with answers provided at the back. Each chapter concludes with a summary to help consolidate understanding before proceeding with the next section.

This Volume describes the processes that shape ocean basins, determine the structure and composition of the ocean crust, and control the major features of the continental margins. Further subjects examined are the ''hot springs'' of the deep oceans, the main pattern of sediment distribution in ocean basins including the recording of past climatic and sea-level changes, and the role of oceans as an integral part of global chemical cycles. Each Volume in this set is well laid out and copiously illustrated with full colour photographs, graphs and graphics. Questions to help develop arguments and/or understanding can be found in the text and at the end of each chapter, with worked answers provided at the back of each Volume. Each chapter also concludes with a sum mary to help consolidate understanding before the next chapter is begun.

The first two chapters outline the causes of circulation patterns in the atmosphere and oceans, emphasizing the interactions between them. Chapter 3 deals with the surface circulation (including mesoscale eddies), using a minimum of mathematics. Chapter 4 reviews the history of ideas about ocean circulation (with special reference to the North Atlantic gyre), and Chapter 5 describes the major current systems at high and low latitudes. The final Chapter returns to the theme of ocean-atmosphere interaction, especially the global transport of heat and freshwater, and the formation of sub-surface water masses.Fully illustrated in four coloursFully illustrated in four colours