Oceans: A Very Short Introduction
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Oceans: A Very Short Introduction

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Oceans: A Very Short IntroductionThe importance of the oceans to life on Earth cannot be overstated. Liquid water covers more than 70% of our planet's surface and, in past geological time, has spread over 85%. Life on Earth began in the oceans over 3. 5 billion years ago and remained there for the great majority of that time. Today the seas still provide 99% of habitable living space, the largest repository of biomass, and holds the greatest number of undiscovered species on the

The importance of the oceans to life on Earth cannot be overstated. Liquid water covers more than 70% of our planet's surface and, in past geological time, has spread over 85%. Life on Earth began in the oceans over 3.5 billion years ago and remained there for the great majority of that time. Today the seas still provide 99% of habitable living space, the largest repository of biomass, and holds the greatest number of undiscovered species on the planet. Our oceans are vital for the regulation of climate, and with global warming and decreasing land area, they have become increasingly important as the source of food, energy in the form of oil and gas, and for their mineral wealth. Oceans also form a key part of the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements critical to life. Nutrients in upwelling areas are spread by ocean currents, and the plankton of the seas supports a wealth of wildlife.

In this Very Short Introduction Dorrik Stow analyses these most important components of our blue planet and considers their relationship with, and exploitation by, humans. He shows how the oceans are an essential resource to our overpopulated world, and discusses why exploration and greater scientific understanding of the oceans, their chemistry, and their mineral wealth are now a high priority. Stow also explores what we know of how oceans originate, and evolve and change; the shape of the seafloor and nature of its cover; the physical processes that stir the waters and mix such a rich chemical broth; and the inseparable link between oceans and climate. As polar ice melts and sea-levels rise, countless millions who have made their homes on low-lying lands close to the sea are threatened. As scientific exploration of the seas gathers pace, the new knowledge gained of the ocean-Earth systems and their interaction with the human environment is vital to our understanding of how we can preserve these ultimately fragile environments.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.


Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 10/01/2017
ISBN: 9780199655076
Pages: 152
Weight: 0.40lbs
Size: 6.80h x 4.30w x 0.50d
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SKU: 6700055613

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I've been reading all the reviews for sheepskins on AMZ and felt this company was the one to go for and WOW did they deliver! The sheepskin came well wrapped but not vacuum packed and is even prettier in person than the pictures. It is super soft, fluffy and dense and mine measured 26" x 40". I absolutely love the wolf tipped colors: ivory, dark grey and a slight brownish hue. There is a slight odor but I don't find it offensive. It stayed put on my leather couch and sitting on it during a Netflix movie was heavenly warm and comfortable. I did not observe any shedding. Will definitely buy another wolf tipped one, once it becomes available as it is worth the money.
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Gorgeous 😍
Size: 2' x 6' (Natural), Color: Champagne, Size: 2' x 6' (Natural), Color: Champagne
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Sir Keith
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This is the one you want...
Size: 2' x 6' (Natural), Color: Natural (Yellow Undertones), Size: 2' x 6' (Natural), Color: Natural (Yellow Undertones)
I bought a ‘Genuine Sheepskin Rug Double Pelt Natural White Fur 2x6’ from Amazon in 2011 for $112.49, and recently decided to recommission it in my new living room. It looked so nice that I decided to add a second rug, and was pleased to find what Amazon claimed to be the same rug still available for only $83.78. Now I’m not one of those silly folks who expects the color and/or size of a natural product like a sheepskin rug to be perfectly predictable, and my living room is large enough that I didn’t need the two rugs to match perfectly, but when the new rug arrived, I couldn’t have been more disappointed. It was about 40% smaller than my older rug, was way, way off from anything that could be called white, and looked cheap, old, and tattered. I tried to comb it out a bit to see if I could make it look presentable, but it was a lost cause. Amazon to the rescue. I returned the rug to Amazon for a full refund the next morning, and the transaction couldn’t have been simpler. And I immediately ordered the ‘Genuine Sheepskin Rug Double Pelt Natural White Fur 2x6’ shown on this page from Super Area Rugs for $119.00. What a difference! These rugs are large, plush, and super soft. The quality of these rugs is obvious, much, much nicer that either my old sheepskin rug or the ‘bargain’ rug I returned to Amazon. I was so impressed with the quality of this rug that I immediately ordered a second, which arrived this morning (it matches the other rug perfectly). My older sheepskin has been reassigned to another room because, well, it’s not in the same league as my two new rugs, which look terrific together. As is so often the case, you get what you pay for. So if you’re looking for a top quality sheepskin rug, this is the one you want.
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Very nice fleeces
This is a clean, soft, well groomed fleece intended for use on a 6 foot long sofa, so bought 2. They moved too much as a result of shifting bodies on the leather couch, so will get a longer version, sewn bottom to bottom, and used each of these fleeces on both armrests, instead.
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Shawn B.
Los Angeles, US
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Excellent Product!!! Will purchase again!
Size: 2' x 3' (Natural), Color: Wolf Tipped
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