In this new sixth edition, Keith Sverdrup has teamed up with Alyn and Alison Duxbury as a co-author. The book continues to be for an introductory oceanography course intended for students without a background in mathematics, chemistry, physics, geology, or biology and it emphasizes the role of basic scientific principles in the processes that govern the ocean and the earth.

A major objective of this text is to stimulate student interest and curiosity by blending contemporary information and research with basic principles to form an integrated introduction to the sciences of the oceans. To accomplish that, the author team has rewritten many chapters, rearranged others, and added new and updated material to all the chapters.

To keep the text as current as possible, the authors have spent much time reading the ever-increasing literature from the analyses of satellite data and the results of large-scale oceanographic programs. From these they have selected material that illustrates new technologies and clarifies the principles of oceanography.

In "An Introduction to the World's Oceans", more emphasis is placed on the physical and geological aspects of the oceans than on the chemical and geochemical, because these latter disciplines require more specific background knowledge. An ecological approach as well as descriptive material is used to integrate the biological chapters with other subjects. "Practical Consideration" sections continue to emphasize the relationships existing among people, ocean resources, and the marine environment. Emphasis is on oceanography as a cohesive and united whole rather than a collection of subjects gathered under a marine umbrella.

Furthermore, the authors continue to make each chapter stand as independently as possible, so you may use the text in the chapter order that best suits your classroom.