Sylvia A. Earle

Discover the world's ocean--from tides and currents to the creatures living in it to the impact it has on our lives, whether we know it or not--in this richly illustrated overview of the life force that defines and sustains our planet, written by world-renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle. Everything you want to know about the ocean can be found inside these beautiful and dynamic pages. National Geographic Ocean unveils the power and significance of our planet's watery essence: the fundamental importance of the ocean in shaping Earth's climate and chemistry as well as its vital role in supporting a multitude of life-forms, including our own human race. World-renowned oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer in Residence Sylvia Earle--affectionately called "Her Deepness"--guides readers with her lyrical style and inspiring wisdom, describing the evolution, beauty, and impact of our ocean; the challenges it faces, such as climate change, plastic, and overfishing; and the myriad ways we can help protect it. This comprehensive reference explains the fundamental science of the ocean--from plate tectonics to seawater makeup, including a fascinating illustrated guide to marine life, from sponges, kelp, and zooplankton to whales, sharks, and sea turtles. More than 100 maps and diagrams, including seafloor and political maps of all Earth's seas and oceans, elucidate Dr. Earle's authoritative text. For seaside dwellers and landlubbers alike, this is a book you will turn to again and again to understand why, as Sylvia Earle says, "Everyone, everywhere is inextricably connected to and utterly dependent upon the existence of the sea." Dive deeper into ocean discovery with more National Geographic favorites: Into the DeepThe Nature of Nature100 Dives of a LifetimeSecrets of the WhalesPristine SeasShark

Based on the famed French explorer's film series, Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures , these are the definitive guides to America's 13 National Marine Sanctuaries and Marine National Monuments. Each installment conducts a grand adventure through each of the four regions of the National Marine Sanctuary system, combining engaging descriptions, stunning photography, and behind-the-scenes stories from the Ocean Futures Society expedition team. Intelligent inquiries into the health of the world's oceans are provided along with an overview of several incredible underwater treasures. Conveying the beauty of the ocean and the specific measures being put into effect to preserve it, this inspirational collection also features detailed, practical information for planning visits to the sanctuaries. Included in this volume are the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Sanctuary.

Dazzling photographs combine with inspiring insights from international ocean icon Sylvia Earle and other notable ocean advocates, paying a poignant tribute to the beauty and magic of the ocean and shedding light on its abundant gifts to the planet. This lyrical ode to the ocean marries the insights and inspiration of ocean advocate Sylvia Earle, and other experts and celebrities, with the world's most stunning photographs of beaches, coral reefs, and underwater life. All combine to express Earle's passionate message: Life depends on the ocean, and to save it we must love it. In seven essays, she recounts the milestones of a life spent pioneering and protecting the ocean. Supporting facts and maps bolster this book's clear and hopeful message: We can all play a role in keeping the heart of our planet alive.

Just one hundred and ten miles south of the Texas-Louisiana border, beneath the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, lie two coral reefs, together called the Flower Garden Banks. This coral community, the northernmost reef system in the United States and a national marine sanctuary, is home to hundreds of kinds of fish and other tropical sea life. Manta rays and turtles visit regularly, as do whale sharks and schools of hammerhead sharks. Other wonders include the annual mass coral spawns and a briny depression called Gollum Lake. Nearby are two other reefs. Stetson Bank, its top spotted with hard corals, mollusks, and sponges, is known for its diversity - from black sea hares to golden smooth trunkfish. At Geyer Bank, thousands of butterfly fish dominate a huge population of tropical fish whose density rivals that of the coral reefs in the South Pacific. Protruding from the flat, muddy continental shelf, these and thirty other natural reefs support an exceptional amount and variety of sea life in Texas waters. They sit amid hundreds of oil and gas platforms, which create their own special reef ecosystems. These reefs, equal in their profusion of life and color to the storied reefs of Florida and Hawaii, have not been widely known to Texans outside of a small group of scientists and divers. With extraordinary photographs and a knowledgeable first-person narrative, author Jesse Cancelmo instills an appreciation for the beauty and fragility of one of the state's least-known natural environments. ""Texas Coral Reefs"" will inspire adventurers - both the underwater and armchair varieties - to enjoy these spectacular but little-known sites that lie so close to home.