Discovering the Deep A Photographic Atlas of the Seafloor and Ocean Crust

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.

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.

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.
Deborah S. Kelley is a Professor in the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington and also Associate Director of Science for the first US underwater high-power, high-bandwidth cabled observatory, funded by the NSF. She is the former Chair of the UNOLS Deep Submergence Science Committee. Her research examines the linkages between submarine volcanoes, underwater hot springs and how they support life in the absence of sunlight. Dr Kelley has participated in over 35 blue water cruises routinely using robotic vehicles, and has been on over 50 Alvin deep-sea submersible dives, to depths as great as 4000 meters.
Daniel J. Fornari is a marine geologist and Senior Scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). He was the first Chief Scientist of Deep Submergence at WHOI, a past Director of WHOI's Deep Ocean Exploration Institute (DOEI) and was a Chair of the Ridge 2000 Program, a NSF-funded national program studying mid-ocean ridges. Dr Fornari is the author or co-author of over 100 research publications and has participated in over 100 research cruises and as many dives in deep-sea submersibles. His research focuses on volcanic and hydrothermal processes along the global mid-ocean ridge, using a variety of surface and deep-towed sonar systems, submersibles, ROVs and AUVs.
Michael R. Perfit is Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Florida, where he has