This textbook provides students with a broad understanding of how the earth and its oceans are constantly changing. Contemporary environmental and technological issues are presented. This edition covers research projects such as side-scan acoustical imaging and swath bathymetry for viewing the seafloor. Features new to this edition include: a chapter on the ocean and the atmosphere, which emphasizes air-sea interaction; Practical Considerations sections throughout the book which help students understand how science is used and how it blends with technology; computer images from satellites and sonar; and new and revised study questions.