Description
The deep oceans and global seafloor are truly Earth’s last frontier. They remain largely unexplored, yet are critical to our survival on this planet. This magnificent, full-color volume transports you to bizarre landscapes hosting exotic life forms that rival the most imaginative science fiction. Starting with a historical summary of seafloor exploration and the developing technologies used to study this extreme environment, it then describes the distinctive geologic components of the Earth’s ocean floor and the unusual biological communities found along the mid-ocean ridges. This is an indispensable reference for researchers, teachers, and students of marine science, and a visually stunning resource that will enlighten and intrigue oceanographers and enthusiasts alike. A suite of online resources, including photographs and video clips, combine with the book to provide fascinating insights into the hidden world of seafloor geology and biology using the latest deep-sea imaging and geological concepts. Jeffrey A. Karson is Professor of Geology in the Department of Earth Sciences at Syracuse University and a Fellow of the Geological Society of America. He investigates the interplay of magmatic construction and mechanical deformation of extensional and transform fault environments from ophiolites, contemporary oceanic crust, Iceland, continental rifts and continental margins. Professor Karson has participated in numerous field projects and seafloor research cruises worldwide. He is the author or co-author of over 150 publications on seafloor spreading and related phenomena. Preface: new views of Earth from below the oceans; 1. Entering the abyss: oceanographic technology; 2. The Earth beneath the sea; 3. Diversity in seafloor spreading; 4. Hydrothermal vents; 5. Submarine volcanism: fire beneath the sea; 6. Dike intrusion and sheeted dike complexes; 7. Gabbroic rocks: clues to magmatic processes; 8. Windows into mantle processes: peridotites; 9. Future research; Index.
